Scepters of Empyrea

by Vignesh Ravichandran

  Exactly!! The person who reaches there first will be the winner, said Lee and flew his quetzal towards the Empolosseum.

  Why does he always remain a cheater, asked Manav to Ameer.

  That's his nature, said Ameer and followed Lee.

  Hey!! First, tell me how to ride this bird fast, shouted Manav.

  Ameer and Lee rode their birds fast and approached the fog area but Manav was way behind struggling to keep pace with them. He patted the quetzal and commanded it to fly faster but the pat only reduced its speed and the bird floated in the sky like a fallen leaf. Meantime, Ameer overtook Lee.

  Leonce!! At least try to secure the second position shouted Ameer while passing him.

  You need to say that to yourself, replied Lee and flew faster.

  Meanwhile, Manav still floating like a leaf didn't know how to ride the quetzal fast like his friends. When he saw his friends nearing the fog, he slightly hit the quetzal with his scepter, but it felt an immense pain and started flying like a broken chopper, it shook its body violently and turned upside down to unseat Manav. Manav held on to dear life holding on to the bird’s neck. He was flying more than 500ft high and was petrified.

  Period in-between, Ameer and Lee entered the massive fog area, the fog lay like a blanket on the sky, making it difficult for them to ride their birds but this severe condition didn't slow the birds down, in fact, they were riding faster to win the race.

  Ameer who was flying upfront remained focused and for one split second his eyes looked up at the sky and his face hardened with concern. Ameer’s eyes suddenly widened in incredulity, a huge mountain loomed large out of the fog straight ahead.

  Leonce!!! There’s a mountain ahead!!! Reduce speed!! Reduce speed, shouted Ameer and tried controlling his quetzal but with the speed at which he was flying, he had difficulty restraining the bird. The monstrous structure seemed at least 4000 feet high.

  I can't hear you properly Ameer, shouted Leonce but soon saw the giant in front and dreaded the impact. He was speechless!

  Ameer flipped his quetzal at the very last minute and evaded the giant with a zigzag move towards the right of the mountain. Leonce acted smart, all of a sudden he stood on the quetzal and made it dive and flew below the mountain. But Manav was completely lost and miserable staggered on shaking his quetzal and approaching the giant mountain.

  Manav entered the fog area unable to control his quetzal, he searched desperately for his friends through the thick fog but found something else instead and his face was filled with terror. He looked with horror as the jagged rocks loomed large out of the fog. He tried hard to turn its quetzal, but the quetzal was even more petrified seeing the monstrous structure, it thrashed into the mountain, scratching on the rough rocks and dropped down. Manav just envisioned his death watching himself fall down the steep mountain, he shut his eyes tightly and holding the neck of the quetzal kissed it, patted the bird and tried soothing the fear out for the both of them. But there was a loud crash and everything went dark for both of them.

  In the meantime, Ameer who flew his quetzal vertical successfully crossed the mountain and headed towards the Empolosseum. He turned to check on Leonce, he found him below the mountain, seeing that he chuckled but when he turned back his chuckle disappeared and terror filled his face.

  Leonce flew along the massive mesa tops of the mountain, his quetzal like a meteor descended into the beautiful landscape of Armania. Leonce was greatly excited about being his first bird flight and shouted all the way down Whoooooo!! hooooo!!!!

  His quetzal slowed down and flew around the beautiful River Isis, Leonce bent down and saw the massive reflection of his quetzal and himself in the middle of the white lotuses in the shiny river. He saw many glowing elegant white lotus on the banks of Falconnia, he restrained his bird and bent even more to take one of those lotus from the river. When his hands touched the elegant flower his hands stiffened, he bent further to take it but the sudden screech of the quetzal diverted his concentration and within a few meters it hurled Lee from its back. Lee flew northwards, the sudden hurl made him lose his grip on the scepter and Lee saw it fall 30metres below the ground and eventually he hit something.

  Meanwhile, Manav was sprawled somewhere on the ground. He coughed out some air and slowly opened his eyes adjusting his eyesight to the external environment but it was dark. He blinked and opened his eyes again but still, it was dark. Manav heard a whining sound and guessed that might be his quetzal and slowly made his way stepping in the dark and moved towards it. He found the bird, but he accidentally stamped on its wings, it whined even more in pain. The quetzal was wounded badly. Manav softly patted the quetzal all over its body to soothe the pain.

  To the right side of the mountain, Ameer's chuckle disappeared when he saw the massive flock of falcon birds under the blasting thunder lights. That particular area was circled with dark clouds and the thunders are shining like silver. In that, there were hundreds of falcons flying with the loud screech. Just then the falcons spotted him and formed a tight pack to charge at him. Ameer screamed in alarm, grasping the quetzal’s neck as the flock of falcons descended upon them.

  On the banks of Falconnia, Lee slowly opened his eyes and he squinted because the sun was glowing right at him. Though the sun’s rays did not cause him any pain he saw his quetzal with one opened eye, and he was astonished. He saw his whining quetzal got paused in its flight, and in the air like a statue. “How was it possible for the bird to remain in the air without flapping its wings?" thought lee. He soon saw his scepter lying on the ground and tried moving to take it, but he couldn't move. Lee shivered as it dawned on him that he was also actually in the same position like his quetzal, stranded in mid air without any support. He was puzzled as to know how this was happening. He screamed in fear but couldn't even move a single inch. Suddenly something caught his eyes, he stared barely breathing.

  Period in-between, Amidst the dark place other than the whining sound of his quetzal Manav heard some other indistinct sound. Listening keenly he figured it was a snore of some creature.

  Quetzal!! There is something else in this place, be careful they can harm us, said Manav and moved a bit, at that time he felt something under his legs soft like cotton, he slowly bent down in the dark and touched the soft thing. He sensed its length to be more than 4feet and started to feel all over it and very soon the soft thing swirled out of his hands. With extreme fear, he dropped his hand down and crawled back. That was a tail of some creature, the creature turned and gave a wild screech and the dark place echoed the screech. OH!!! Nooooooo screamed Manav as he spotted the two reddish eyes of the creature in the dark.

  On the banks of Falconnia, the sunlight instantly revealed a huge loathsome flying tarantula spider towering over lee's quetzal. He didn't care about how the spider was flying, the only thing that ran in Lee's mind was to save his quetzal. He tried hard to move but in vain. He saw his scepter and planned to use it, he shouted abrakadabra come to me, he didn't know how to summon his scepter. The scepter could be summoned by their lords with open fists, but Lee in anger closed his fists tightly and yelled to the scepter.

  Meanwhile at the thundering clouds, the struggle between the falcons and Ameer continued in the middle of thunderbolts. The falcons were trying to get him off from the quetzal, their sharp beaks targeted his skull and their sharp claws were tried to scratch the body of the quetzal, but ameer ducked and avoided their spiky beaks and sharp claws. The falcons didn't notice the scepter behind him. The thunderbolts caused huge troublesome to ameer in riding his quetzal in the middle of it, meantime the falcons were only able to succeed in inflicting pain on his quetzal, in return the quetzal is dreaded in the bestial noise of thunder.

  Suddenly the Falcons swooped and grabbed onto the Quetzalcoatlus in mid air. They squawked, tumbled, and scratched on it. Ameer has no control over the Quetzalcoatlus it began to fall down towards the sea. The Quetzalcoatlus wailed in pain as the falcons tore its wing membranes, it wrenched upwards, trying
to escape the grip. Falcons clawed the Quetzalcoatlus's face, it winced, and it let go of the Quetzalcoatlus, who tumbled and tried gaining lift, but its torn wings slowed it down.

  Manav was having a hard time too in the dark trying to figure out the menacing creature that he was dealing with. With the creatures eye level, he guessed it was at least 5 feet tall and he was desperate to get a hold of his scepter. The creature attacked him and Manav tried to capture it with his one hand but it seemed as though it was as huge as or rather outweighed a lion, its body drenched in dirty water giving an unpleasant smell.

  On the banks of Falconnia, the flying tarantula saw Lee when he yelled, hey!! Magical scepter come to me. Instead of the scepter, the flying spider flew towards him. His eyes locked with the beast and his fear was apparent. Soon in the light, Lee saw a shiny web coming out of the flying tarantula's mouth. Leonce realized that he and his quetzal were stuck in the invisible web of the tarantula and it showed the beast as though it was flying. Lee was clever to figure that out, but it was too late. The massive web of tarantula hit him at his stomach covering most of his hands tightening his whole body.

  The beast was horrendous looking. It hissed at the light and Lee could see it in all its gory glory. Two great clusters of eyes protruded from its bulbous head, its legs were bent spanning 12-feet and hairs that stuck out like steel spines. And from its mouth, there was this shiny white liquid that flowed out continuously.

  Lee tried to wrench himself free from the sticky web. Luckily he opened his fists but was not focusing on his scepter to summon it, his golden scepter shook and vibrated on the ground but it will not fly unless Lee summons it.

  In the dark place, the creature with a loud screech approached Manav to attack heavily, thankfully he sensed something again at his feet and when he tried to grab it, he realized it was a huge boulder. He lifted it with his one hand and when he was about to hurl at the creature, a golden light brightened from his behind and showed the creature to his eyes, the creature is nothing but a huge fat rat. Manav rightly hurled the boulder at its head.

  Manav didn't even wait to check if the rat was dead, he was only eager to check the golden light. Soon, the dark place was bathed in light with the fire bursting body of the little insect fireflies. Like stars in the sky, they lit up one by one and started to move. Manav in extreme amazement raised his one hand and sensed the flying stars all around him. The fireflies circled them and started flying away from that place.

  Immediately the quetzal got up from the ground and bent itself for Manav to get on it and Manav took his scepter from the ground and sat on the quetzal. The quetzal flew in the path of the fireflies and got out from the dark place, that's a cave inside the mountain. Manav rocketed towards the Empolosseum to win the race.

  On the banks of Falconnia, The tarantula locked eyes with Lee, it inched towards him no longer spitting white liquid from its mouth and opened its mouth wide to taste Lee. The smell disgusted Lee and when he turned away unable to bear the smell, he spotted his scepter vibrating below. When the tarantula growled and came towards Lee's throat, Lee at last shouted with open fists and summoned his scepter, it rocketed into his hands, and Lee with a firm grip pierced the sharp scepter blade into the body of the beast. The beast scrambled to its death. This released Lee from the invisible web, it tore by the blade legs of the tarantula. Lee sliced the head of the tarantula with his scepter and survived. He later went towards his quetzal rescued it and took off towards the Empolosseum.

  Finally, Ameer was able to draw his scepter from his back and pointed it towards the falcon birds. They got feared and uncontrollably they began to thrash towards Ameer. There were hundreds of birds blocking his way to the Empolosseum, he needed to find a way to get out of the flock. They engulfed him in a cloud of feathers but Ameer manages to ride his quetzal brave enough and headed towards the Empolosseum.

  Manav reached the Empolosseum from the top when Lee flew in from the main entrance. When they both were about to land in the inner circle, another screech rendered the air, it was Ameer who entered at the left entrance, they all landed together.

  Hey!! I only came first, said Lee, but Ameer and Manav weren't speaking, they were busy checking out the supreme architecture of the Empolosseum.

  Great architecture!!! I can’t believe my own eyes, this ancient arena is simply amazing, even now no country has built their stadiums like this, said Ameer.

  I’m guessing they didn’t use any machineries but how did they manage this height, it just amazes me that they had so much strength and determination said Manav filled with awe.

  These weren’t built by humans Manav, this was constructed by these people (showed them the sketch on the gateways). They are called Rhinorios. They built this arena under the province of this elongated skull man said Lee and showed them the sketch of Prince Horus.

  All these drawings talk about the powers of the scepters which we own, we need to go through all of them to fully understand what we possess, said Ameer. They decided to explore the drawings and expand their knowledge. From each sketch, they learned something new and in the process was amazed.

  Manav!! Check this sketch…!! Even before the invention of a telescope and satellite these people have sketched the planet, said Ameer.

  It’s amazing! But, why have they drawn only two planets, why not all the planets in the galaxy!! According to my science book, the planets are said to have their neighboring planets either to the right or to the left and not on the top of it like this sketch, said Manav.

  Ancient science was a little different, we need to research more to understand it. See, there are some words written under the planets, that must be the planets name, said Ameer.

  Ameer!! Manav!! Over here, see what I found, Lee called them to the entrance of the Empolosseum.

  What’s up! Have you found any other sketch, asked Ameer.

  It seems more important than the sketches, looks like an epigraphic stone, said Lee.

  Yes! They must have made it when they were inaugurating this building, said Manav.

  The message has been crafted in many languages, but I just can’t decipher any of these, said Ameer.

  Yes! As we saw in the sketches, each group of people has been practicing each language and there happens to be five in total. Empii, Vathrian, Nagali, Dink, and Raila, said Lee.

  Hey! Look! The messages are in six different languages but you said only five, said Manav and showed the bottom of the epigraphic stone.

  This looks like Egyptian! (Lee started digging the ground) It’s been a long time since its construction! The ground layer has increased! Help me to remove these waste rocks, said Lee.

  But, why are you digging! Anyway, we don’t know Egyptian so how could we read it, asked Manav.

  You might not know Egyptian but not me! Before we went to rob the Egyptian special museum, I did my homework on the precious ornaments and other antiques and at that time for my reference, I did learn Egyptian, said Lee.

  I have always loved your dedication Lee! Are you more fluent with the Egyptian, asked Ameer.

  No! I am not fluent in Egyptian but just a beginner. We almost cleaned the place with just a boulder to go, give me a hand, said Lee.

  After throwing the boulder away, the epigraphic stone was clean and clear to read, and Lee started reading it.

  This building is said to be Em-po-lo-sse-um, spelled Lee.

  Is that Empolosseum? asked Manav.

  Yeah! That’s right! Empolosseum, nodded Lee.

  You sound like a kinder garden kid, without knowing Egyptian I could guess the word, kidded Manav.

  Manav! Let him read it fully, said Ameer.

  This was constructed by prince rus-ho and his people, this must be the guy whom we saw in that sketch, said Lee.

  Hmm! Ok continue, said Ameer.

  It was constructed in 183A-M-S and was completed in 219A-M-S, I don’t understand these numbers and letters, why can’t they just write it like it was constructed in the year 183, said Le
e.

  183!! At that time, it surely seems like a wrong calculation on the number of days in the year, said Ameer.

  I don’t think so, I guess Lee was misreading it, said Manav.

  I am reading it correctly!! Mind your business!! It was inaugurated by the ng-k d-ser em-rath of met-ke, that does not sound right! Sorry, its king Djoser of Kemet, Emrath, said Lee.