Scepters of Empyrea

by Vignesh Ravichandran

  (There was thunder all over Sorgamia)

  Manav let out his rage loud and soon his scepter started to transmit the power into his left hand like electric waves. It evolved through his nervous system and spread all over him, and his arm indeed began to grow, it grew fully. But, unfortunately the arm was looking like the arm of a gorilla, with the muscled forearm, huge fingers, sharp nails, and dark hairs were filled with it. But Manav did not mind at all, he was just elated to have both of his arms for the first time. And he could feel the strength of his new arm.

  This feels so good! I feel stronger than before! These powers are great, said Manav unable to contain his excitement.

  These powers will stay with you, only if you were in Empyrea. Now tell me my lord,! Are you wishing to get back to earth, asked Pitheceus.

  No! Not required, I will stay in Empyrea with my powers and you could also stay with me forever. You have proved to be not only resourceful but loyal too so I give you the opportunity to serve me, said Lord Manav.

  (A Phoenix bird noticed all of this sitting on a nearby rock)

  Pitheceus sneered cruelly and went to the vathroo camp along with Lord Manav. His plan worked, he made Manav enraged and brought out his other side. He also successfully earned his trust and now he could influence him the way he wanted to.

  Meanwhile in Nagamalya,

  Leonce was so angry with Ameer for his rude behavior, he thought a lot about proving to them that they were outside Earth.

  I have been his close friend for more than 20years and yet he asked me to shut my mouth in front of that disabled Manav. What kind of friend is he, just because he has a flying dinosaur will he grab the position of the leader. No way, a real leader is the one who listens to others word too, Lee was so furious that he was ranting all of this to a peach tree.

  (A cold wind blew from the north side and the trees rustled)

  ‘Yes! He should have listened to you’, a voice came from the tree.

  Did you speak? Lee asked the tree and frantically went around it looking in the direction of the voice.

  Empyrea has got many mysterious things in it but the trees have not yet started to speak, was the response from the tree once again.

  Then who are you? Reveal your identity before I point my scepter at you, ordered Lee.

  (A female empyrean jumped down from the tree)

  I am Kraity, are you confused whether this place is Emrath or some other planet?

  I will clear your confusions. Emrath doesn’t have a beautiful environment, soft creatures and pretty good people like these, this is Vathura and the only place leftover in Vathura is this Empyrea, said Kraity.

  You are an empyrean, what are you doing in my Nagamalya? Are you a scout for anyone, who sent you, asked Lee.

  I am not a scout to anyone. I have been living in Nagamalya for god knows how many years. If you need to get back to your Emrath, you will need my help, said Kraity.

  Yes! I need to get back to my earth, but before that, I need to let my friends know about this place and take them too, said Lee.

  Hahahahaa! Friends! Hahahahaa! They aren’t real friends, said Kraity for manipulating the mind of Lee.

  Why are you laughing?, You don’t know anything about me or my friends. Ameer and I have been friends from childhood, I can’t leave him stuck in this place, whispered Lee.

  Hahaha! Your childhood friend! Hahahahaa! He is the one who is going to betray you, he knows everything about this place, said Kraity.

  Betray me! But why, I am his best friend and moreover, what’s the reason for betraying me, I haven’t done anything to hurt him, and I have nothing with me, said Lee.

  You have nothing! Hahaha! That’s in your emrath, but here, you have insurmountable powers, strong followers, eerie pets and not to mention the mountains of wealth, said Kraity sowing seeds of desire in Lee.

  Mountains of wealth! Where is it? All I see is snakes and weird snake people along with these giant rocks.

  Nagamalya is a place filled with a variety of snakes like Empramid snake, Ewter snake, Ehill snake, Ebra, Kraita, and many other, each one is unique in its own way, concerning their appearance, venom, and secrets.

  Out of those, the Ebra snakes have a secret power of spitting their poison out like a tiny pebble size gemstone known as Egas. Each female Ebra snake in Nagamalya spits out unique Egas to call their male Ebras. Egas are this beautiful moon like pearls with a blue tint, and it emits light in the darkness to play with the male Ebra, it helps them find their prey. Seeing the unique Egas, the male Ebras will go towards it and both will mate in that light and get ready for their prey with the help of that light. Only the satisfied female Ebras will come back to the Egas and swallow it once again, the unsatisfied ones will leave the Egas and will find another mate in the future. Those Egas that are left behind are seen everywhere in Nagamalya, especially in the Ega cave, said Kraity.

  Ega cave!!!!!! Do you know where my mountain of wealth is, asked Lee already filled with awe.

  (Kraity smiled cruelly for trapping Lee)

  Yes! I know, come with me, said Kraity and took him towards the north of Nagamalya.

  (Both started to climb on the mountain)

  You’re saying you know the place of the ega cave where plenty of egas are, how come you haven’t taken those for yourself? asked Lee to Kraity.

  According to mythology, except the snakes, anyone who touches the Egas gem will be buried in that heat, (Lee abruptly stopped in his tracks). Don’t just stand there, climb up, and if you are finding it difficult to climb the mountain with the scepter at your back, you can hand it over to me, said Kraity.

  Not required! I can manage. But are you taking me to bury me inside the cave! In that case, I am not coming with you, said Lee.

  Don’t you realize who you are and the power that you possess! By owning this scepter, you are the lord of these snakes and you are a snake yourself. So, there is no way you will be harmed, said Kraity.

  Snake!!! What are you saying, I am not a snake? gasped Lee.

  (Kraity turned with a look of shock on her face)

  You could transform yourself into a snake!!!! I’m surprised you didn’t know this earlier, said Kraity.

  No!!! I thought this would control only the Nagas and protect me from the snakes, said Lee.

  ‘My scepter of venom is in the hands of a stupid human. Anyway, I need to make him realize his powers and manipulate him to fight his own friends so that we can proceed according to plan’, thought Kraity.

  You could transform yourself, but it’s not necessary now, Climb faster! We need to get to the ega cave before the sunrise, diverted Kraity.

  (Soon they reached the cave)

  This is the place where many of the snakes mate with each other, let’s explore, said Kraity and took him inside the cave.

  Inside the cave there were plenty of snakes mating with each other by spitting the Egas aside, they were seen everywhere, the cave was filled with more than 100 vicious snakes, each one was unique in color and length over 15feet. Lee dreaded the sight.

  No one likes to be interrupted leave alone in the middle of mating. The snakes were furious and started to attack Lee and Kraity but as soon as they spotted the scepter with Lee they backed off. Lee and Kraity continued to move towards the queen’s chamber.

  Now, the Lord of snakes possessed this unique power. He could gift the ega stone to anyone he wishes and when that happens the heat of the stone will disappear and the receiver will achieve the magical power of transforming into an Ebra snake. Kraity was thinking to herself, ‘ I need to make him trust me and gift me an Egas stone, with that once again I will get the transformation power’.

  Where are we heading to? Why can’t we pick the gems from the ground, asked Lee.

  There are different types of Egas stones, the growth of its light emission is proportionate to the age of the Ebra snake, and the stone from a younger snake does not possess that much light as that of an old snake. These ground snakes are the young on
es and slaves to the queen Ebra. so these are only the minor precious Egas, said Kraity.

  Minor precious Egas!!!!! No!!!!!!! These look amazing and shine more than a pearl, I can’t take my eyes off them, said Lee.

  Listen to my words carefully! The queen’s chamber is at the end of this cave, there will be many Egas with different colors and it will be more precious and trust me you could sell them at a higher value in your emrath, said Kraity.

  (They came to the queen’s chamber)

  This is the queen’s chamber. Here you can find many types of Egas. (Lee was mesmerized seeing the chamber filled with plenty of gems) there were various color stones in the chamber like yellow, honey, lit green, red and even white.

  Wow! Wowwww!!! This place is glittering and emits light to several meters like a sun. I feel like standing in heaven. By the way, you said this is the queen’s chamber, but there is no snake found here, asked Lee.

  You idiotic human! I am the queen! These gems are my poison balls. I will show you my power once I get back my scepter, muttered Kraity.

  Meanwhile, Lee was examining a gem which was honey in color, it was solid and was a sort of transparent emitting its light to several meters.

  Wow! This gem looks so precious, I could sell just this one for more than a million dollars but I am going to gift it to my dear love who is such a strong support to me always, said Lee.

  (Kraity felt shy)

  I will be ready to accept it, my dear lord! I will keep it safe with me, said Kraity lovingly.

  To whom are you speaking with Kraity!!! Gone mad after seeing the mountain of gems, have you?! (Kraity face started to turn red) Ok, forget it! You said the snakes will leave the Egas only when they are not satisfied with their mate, right!!! In that view, looking at all these gems, the queen seems like she hasn’t found a satisfying mate for more than a million times. (Lee removed his upper coat and started to fill it with the gems) If she was a human, I would have given her the missing thing, said Lee jokingly and made some attractive actions with his chest.

  He is tempting me! Oh Kraity, kill this little fella, thought Kraity.

  What! You’ve gone all quiet all of a sudden? Take some of these gems and help me in loading it in this naga dress, said Lee.

  Kraity touched the gems to load them, but when she touched it a quick fire from the gem hurt her hands. Ouch! shouted Kraity in pain and dropped the gems.

  Ooops! Have you forgotten your words, except the snakes anyone who touches the Egas gem will be buried in that heat, Hahaha! I just asked you to take the gems to test that theory, Hahaha, said Lee.

  Oh, my fingers! My own poison buries me! Cunning human, after the new moon night you will be at my beck and call. At that time I will bury you alive, thought Kraity.

  Ok! The coat was fully loaded, it’s enough for the day, let’s get back to the camp, said Lee.

  (They came out of the cave)

  Well Kraity! I don’t have words to thank you enough, you have made me the richest person on earth, in return I’d like to do a favor for you, said Lee.

  Well now!!!! Come!! Come!! You got trapped yourself! Gift me the Egas gem, thought Kraity.

  (A Phoenix bird was following them since they started)

  I don’t know if just one favor would do and be fair to you. So from this day onwards you don’t need to stay on the branches of the trees, you could stay with me in the Naga camp, said Lee.

  I would be proud and pleased to serve you my lord! said Kraity and bowed before Lee.

  Oh Kraity! Just call me, Lee!

  This is far better than I imagined, you spreading your own net for your doomsday, thought Kraity and both headed towards the Naga camp.

  (Phoenix flew back)

  Meanwhile in Dinolaya,

  Ameer was very confused after seeing the drawings of the two planets in the Empolosseum and he was pretty upset because of the behavior of his friends.

  Am I really on a different planet!! If that is so, how did I get here?? Lee is a genius, he never says a thing without analyzing it thoroughly. But I told him to shut his mouth just to control the emotions of Manav, without understanding that he started to argue with me. At the end, I’m the villain and they both went to their places like heroes, something I did not expect from them, thought Ameer.

  If I am on the other planet, I need to have noticed something different with the environment, like a different sky color, a bigger sun, more number of moons, or a ring over the planet. I didn’t see anything of that sort, everything looks normal as that of earth, nothing seems to be unusual except the people and creatures. But, I don’t get the point why it is mentioned as king Djoser of Kemet, Emrath. What does emrath really mean, does it really denote the earth or something else? I am confused, someone help me please, yelled Ameer in frustration.

  (Flying Quetzalcoatlus made some eerie sounds)

  Oh! You came back dropping them is it, but still, I didn’t get a conclusion, where am I, shouted Ameer.

  I heard someone asking for help, was that you, the voice came from behind Ameer. That was Tyrant who was ready to manipulate Ameer doing his part.

  Yeah! It’s me, green fella. Do you know what place this is?, asked Ameer.

  This is Empyrea my kid, replied Tyrant.

  Oh!!! I mean the planet, what planet is this, earth or some other planet? asked Ameer by standing in the support of his scepter.

  My lord! I didn’t see your scepter earlier, kindly pardon me (acted Tyrant and bowed down before Ameer). This is planet Vathura but are you asking about the planet Emrath my lord, asked tyrant.

  What!!! Vathura!!!! Then where is earth? What’s the way to get back to my earth, asked Ameer.

  Planet Emrath is so far away from Vathura my lord, my grandfather used to say there is no way getting back to Emrath, said Tyrant.

  I can’t get you. What do you mean by no way, then how did I end up here in this weird place, asked Ameer.

  My lord! My ancestors were also humans, they belong to the Kemet. My ancestors came to Empyrea at the time when the Empolosseum was constructed. Those people who came to Empyrea never returned, some got killed by the creatures and some married the people of Empyrea and despite searching their way back they haven’t been successful, lied Tyrant.

  What are you saying, I am confused, said Ameer.

  Let me explain- You can see the different placements of the stars my lord, this is planet Vathura and there is no way to Emrath unless you are the Emperor of Empyrea, said Tyrant.

  What did you just say?! Come again, said Ameer.

  I said the stars are placed incorrectly and there is no way to Emrath, said Tyrant.

  Not that, the next sentence, you mentioned something about the way to Emrath and Emperor something! Tell me that, asked ameer.

  You are falling right into my trap, kid, thought Tyrant.

  The way to Emrath could be created only by the Emperor of Empyrea my lord, said Tyrant.