“Where are we,” Thad wondered looking around in awe.
“This Is the Planet world Minerva,” His Grandfather answered. “It is lies on the farthest tip of our milky way galaxy,” He explained.
“I don’t remember Minerva being listed among the planets in my astronomy classes,” Thad said curiously.
“Naturally it wouldn’t be,” His Grandfather said laughing, “She is older than most planets and far beyond the reaches of any telescope on earth or in space. Mercury, Venus, Neptune and all the other planets are teenagers compared to her.”
“Really,” Thad’s eyes widened in amazement. “Does she still orbit our sun and have a moon?” he asked innocently.
“In a way she does, yes, but she is to far away to draw any heat or light. They receive their light and warmth from a giant star. As for a moon, she has seven.”
Thad’s face remained frozen with pure delight and astonishment as he looked around. “This is way too cool! Do all the rooms in the house have a world attached to them?” Thad asked.
“No,” The Professor shook his head, “And no one except me, the council of keepers and the Sentry know exactly which doors are portals.”
“So my room doesn’t have some inter-dimensional world floating in it,” Thad said with disappointment.
“No it doesn’t,” his Grandfather laughed, “But don’t be to upset just yet, this is only the beginning.”
Thad’s smile crept back to his lips. He was amazed by the beauty that surrounded him. For the most part Minerva appeared much the same as earth. She was clothed with trees and plants, with water that pooled and flowed over her moistening her skin, and her blue skies were dotted with puffy clouds. Yes, she was very much the same as earth. It wasn’t till his eyes caught sight of a large bird with long colorful tail feathers did the difference hit home.
“Did you see that?”Thad grabbed his Grandfather’s arm to make him stop.
“See what?” his grandfather asked.
“That, that, bird!” Thad exclaimed pointing to the sky.
“OH, you mean the Avesapien,” His Grandfather replied casually.
“Avesapien,” Thad repeated, whispering the name “It is the most beautiful bird I have ever seen,” He gasped, keeping his eyes turned to the sky.
“It truly is one of the most fascinating creatures I have encountered,” His Grandfather agreed. “For the most part it is just a bird, a cross between a peacock and an eagle. But once you are up close….” He let his sentence drift.
“Once you get up close…..” Thad prodded.
“Their uniqueness is…..almost unnerving,” He added with a mischievous tone.
“Why?” Thad asked getting irritated by his grandfather’s teasing.
“It also has characteristics similar to us,” He finished casually.
Thad’s eyes widened. “Beg your pardon, did you say similar to us? How? ” he wondered, completely baffled by the idea.
“It walks upright like we do, and their faces are like ours but feathered,” His Grandfather explained with a twinkle in his eye. “Think of Leath, or Zyphera wearing a Mardi gras mask.”
“Have you seen one up close?” Thad wanted to know.
“I have met a few,” The Professor replied.
“A few!” Thad yelled in amazement “How many are there? What are they like?” Thad babbled excitedly, wanting to know more.
“You will just have to meet one for yourself,” His Grandfather answered grinning from ear to ear.
“Really!” Thad squealed “I can meet one?”
“Not if you squeal like that. You’re liable to scare them,” His Grandfather laughed.
Thad shot him a friendly glare.
“Come on, there is plenty more to see,” The professor said with a smile as he draped his arm over Thad’s shoulders.
The Professor walked quietly beside Thad, allowing him to take in the wonders of the new world. He remembered the first time he walked through the door and onto the vast plains that sprawled out before the grand mountains that housed the city itself. He still felt that same familiar rush every time he visited a world. They were always evolving and growing, changing much the way earth did. Every visit felt like a first. But Minerva’s different. She is his home away from home, and her inhabitants part of his family.
“Do you see the city?” He asked pointing to the mountain range in the distance. Thad shielded his eyes and looked hard in the direction his grandfather was pointing.
“I can’t see it,” He replied squinting.
“Just wait a moment. There now do you see it?” His grandfather asked again. A flash of light suddenly rebounded off the base of the mountain.
“I see it,” Thad said excitedly “I see the city!" He rushed forward, his body flooding with anticipation. “Come on Grandpa, let’s go,” He called over his shoulder.
“I am coming, I am coming,” His grandfather laughed. “I am going as fast as my old bones will let me!”
The nearer they drew to the city, the more feelings of exhilaration vibrated through Thad’s body.
“Holy cow, she is amazing,” He whispered breathlessly.
Nestled deep in a valley, barely visible to the human eye, at the base of two mountains sat the very prestigious city of Minerva. To the inhabitants of the universe she is known as the City of Knowledge. It is here all knowledge and history of the universe is acquired, updated, and preserved by the keepers, the oldest, and wisest of all the worlds. The majority of the city itself is hidden deep within the mountains core, built along a large underground river. The river is used to power the city and sustain all life above and below ground.
The reflection seen shimmering in the valley of the great mountains was just a small outer city used mainly for protection and hospitality for incoming travelers. The outer city was constructed from the displaced rock caused when the inner city was built. Each rock had been meticulously carved and molded to create a bustling city center with every nook and cranny utilized. The stones were decorated with delicate full figured dancing women, handsome strong men, playful children, intricate filigree, and murals of the most beautiful night skies full of stars and planets. Even the road had been engraved. Everything about Minerva was magical.
“Wow I can’t believe this is real!” Thad exclaimed as they walked through the large gates. “And it was just behind one of the doors in the house. Do you know how many times I have opened that door?” Thad said turning to look at his Grandfather, “Like a hundred times. How come I have never seen this place before? He inquired, his eyes darting from place to place trying to capture every detail.
“Well every door is protected by a very old and very powerful charm. Before the door will grant you entrance into this world you must produce a password which disables the charm,” his Grandfather explained.
“A password eh,” Thad pondered the info, “This is all way to Sci-fi fantasy,” shaking his head as if that might help him absorb things better.
“Beam me up Scotty,” His Grandfather laughed.
“We aren’t going to be beamed anywhere are we?” Thad asked with a serious look on his face. “I think that would be a little much for me,” he added with concern. True he was dealing with the revelations well, but one could only take so much in at a time.
“No beaming, at least not until your ready,” His grandfather promised, eyes twinkling with mischief once again.
“I don’t know about you,” Thad said shaking a finger at him with a look of playful suspicion.
“I don’t know about you either,” His Grandfather replied wrapping his arms around Thad’s shoulders in a bear hug.
“So who are these people that I am suppose to meet?” Thad asked, changing the subject.
“They are the oldest and wisest people that you will ever know, and they are very excited to finally meet you.”
“They are? Why?”
“Well, you are a very special boy.”
“You’re just biased,” Thad said blushing
.
“Maybe a little biased,” his Grandfather admitted. “Anyways, I am taking you to meet Gabriel. He will be able to explain things to you a little better than I can. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find out, especially when you learn a little more about Zyphera, Mathias and Miss Mirdy.”
“Really,” Thad’s face light up with wonder, “Are they special like me?”
“I can’t tell you, it might spoil things!”
“Awe come on, you can’t tease me like that. Why don’t you just tell me?” Thad begged.
“Gabriel has been looking forward to telling this story for a long, long, long, long time, and I wouldn’t want to disappoint him.”
“You are very cruel,” Thad said, his trademark pout hanging off his lip.
“I know,” His Grandfather grinned, “that is one benefit of being a Grandfather!”
The two were silent for a moment. “Is Gabriel an angel?” Thad suddenly asked.
“What on earth would make you think that?” His grandfather replied looking at the boy questioningly.
“He has an angel’s name,” Thad shrugged.
The Professor laughed. “I guess you could say he is like an angel. He helps people when he can, but he is not an angel. Gabriel’s race is known as the keepers. They are a passive race whose main responsibility is to record the history of the universe.”
“So they see everything?”
“Sorry, nothing that exciting. Many keepers are assigned to a planet and are responsible for obtaining and recording its history. Then they transfer the data to the main archives here. They have a little help from Miss Mirdy’s race,” he added tempting Thad even further.
“Miss Mirdy’s race,” Thad’s face once again was filled with wonder. “She is a different race? You have to tell me. You did that on purpose didn’t you?” Thad crossed his arms scowling, “You are worse than a child sometimes,” Thad accused him as he realized he was still going to have to wait. “So what is Gabriel’s job then?” Thad asked hoping to find out some sort of information.
“Gabriel is training to be the next Sentinel,” His Grandfather replied “His duties are much like mine and yours. Now if you don’t mind, I am going to let Gabriel explain the rest. No more questions,” His Grandfather instructed with glee as he watched Thad’s face cloud over once again. Usually he would scold the others for purposely poking fun or aggravating Thad because he had such a cute angry demeanor, but he couldn’t help himself today. Not when he knew how astounded and amazed Thad will be when he hears his first official history lesson.
Thad dutifully closed his mouth, his mind brewing a thousand questions. His tummy felt like a million butterflies were trapped inside. With every step they took down the winding roads of the outer city, the feeling intensified.
“He’s not scary is he?” Thad suddenly blurted out stopping in his tracks. His grandfather took one look at Thad’s terrified expression and promptly swept him into his arms.
“Of course he’s not scary,” He answered trying to reassure Thad. “I would never take you to a place if I knew that there was even the slightest chance you be frightened or hurt,” He added stroking Thad’s dark hair.
“Good,” Thad mumbled into his Grandfather’s chest “I just wanted to make sure,” he added trying to sound tough.
His Grandfather smiled, “We can come back another day if you want?”
“Are you kidding, Leath and Mathias would be bugging me for weeks if I chickened out,” Thad replied jumping out of his grandfather’s arms. “I am ready,” Thad said taking a deep breath, “Let’s do this.”
He marched on ahead leaving his Grandfather chuckling on the side of the road.
“Glad to see you are still a kid,” He murmered, pushing himself back up. With a few creaks and groans he was off following Thad’s eager footsteps.
Welcome to Minerva
It took under an hour to reach the inner city deep in the mountains core. Even being hundreds of feet beneath the earth’s crust, their ability to see was not impeded. An ingenious network of mirror lined tunnels channeled light from the surface to the depths below.
“Bartholomew!” An excited voice wafted up from one of the many city streets.
The Professor stopped and looked around. “Gabriel is that you?” He hollered, trying to pick his friend out of the throng of people milling around them.
From a side alley stepped a striking gentlemen. He was dressed in a woven silver and silk garment. He had a full head of golden curls that fell down his forehead framing his deep, brown eyes. His smile lightened his olive toned face.
“It is so wonderful to see you again,” Gabriel said rushing to greet them. “I apologize for not meeting you on the surface, but council was running late…..again,” He explained, rolling his eyes.
“No apologizes necessary,” The Professor assured him. “It has been far to long my friend,” grasping Gabriel up in a big bear hug.
“Well if you hadn’t decided to shut out all things extra-terrestrial,” Gabriel muttered jokingly half under his breath.
“I had my reasons,” The Professor defended himself.
“Hi!” a rather excited Thad said, breaking up their little reunion. “I am Thad it is very nice to meet you Mister Gabriel. I have heard so much about you and I am very excited to be here and to learn all about whatever you are going to teach me!” he rambled on breathlessly.
“It is nice to meet you too,” Gabriel said with a laugh. “I see you have inherited your Grandfather’s gift of long windedness.”
“He’s not my real Grandfather,” Thad said laughing “I thought you guys knew everything.”
“My mistake, and of course we know everything,” Gabriel replied bowing slightly in apology.
“No worries. But don’t let it happen again,” Thad joked, shaking his finger at Gabriel.
“Never!” Gabriel promised, a serious demeanor washed over him. The two burst out laughing as if they were old friends. “I can see we are going to have a marvelous time together,” he exclaimed, ruffling Thad’s hair. “Well let’s not waste anytime. Please come this way,” he gestured falling into step beside them. “I have much to tell you. I hope your Grandfather has not been spoiling you with information?”
“Oh no, He’s made sure I remain in a tortured state of darkness,” Thad assured him in a slightly bitter voice.
Gabriel Laughed. “You are so mean,” He said to Bartholomew, agreeing with the young boy.
“It was way too much fun!”The Professor admitted sheepishly.
“Where are we going?” Thad asked noticing they were leaving the bustling streets of the inner city.
“You’ll see,” Gabriel replied.
Thad and his Grandfather followed Gabriel down a deserted narrow road that abruptly ended a few feet ahead. Only a small pathway etched into the shear face of a cavern wall lay in front of them.
“Where are we going again?” Thad asked peering over the ledge into the abyss.
“I am taking you to the place where we store all the knowledge we gather,” Gabriel answered.
“Is there any other way to get there?” Thad wondered his natural will to survive kicking in.
“I am afraid not,” Gabriel answered shaking his head.
“For all your intelligence you couldn’t find a safer way to build a road,” Thad stated as he tried to will himself on to the ledge.
“Actually it was our intelligence that built it,” Gabriel said with a smile, “There is a lot of valuable information kept in this city and we figured that this was the best way to protect it, one way in one way out.”
“Right, makes sense,” Thad said keeping his eyes glued to the ground in front of him.
“The path is a lot wider than it seems,” Thad’s Grandfather said trying to encourage him. “I’ll be right behind you,” He gently nudged Thad forward.
Thad inhaled deeply, extending his left foot then his right. “Left foot… Right foot…. Left foot….. Right foot…”
He repeated to himself slowly inching forward.
It took him seven minuets to reach the other side. A huge rush of air escaped his lungs.
“Were you holding your breath that whole time?” Gabriel asked looking at him with concern.
“Breathing could’ve caused me to lose my footing,” Thad replied defensively.
“Uh huh” Gabriel said raising an eyebrow.
“So I have a fear of heights. Does that make me less of a Watchman?” He demanded.
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