by Luka Petrov
“You haven’t been wrong yet!” Yves replied, leaping into a dark entrance. Agnes didn’t hesitate, jumping into one of her own. I did the same, my world turning dark save for the small light from y spell, but soon I found myself on a slide and was safely deposited to the level below.
Yves was already up, and Agnes got to her feet and looked around. “More discs.”
I examined the area and indeed found a series of discs, each the same size as the ones above but these were fewer and spaced further out… also, the ground around was not rigged with glue. The central pillar began to light up with holes in the middle, threatening the launch fire out at any moment.
“I would imagine this is the last challenge,” I explained. “The entrance is below us.”
“Yes, but how do we get the discs to fall?” Agnes asked. “There seem to be lots of discs on the wall. Do we grab some?”
“I think so,” I replied, there are slots for several on each disc.
“One of each then?” Yves asked. “Though it seems there is more than there are slots.”
I looked around; the fire seemed to grow hotter. I noticed that each area behind a disc had several of the same symbols. “No! Pick enough of one clan and only one clan!”
“Got it!” Agnes replied, running off to collect some discs. Yves began to gather her own. I did the same, gathering all of a clan before placing them all in on my platform. As I placed the last one it fell, followed shortly by the others.
We all looked around, the room was empty with the central pillar slanting to the far side of the room and a massive door beyond; the door began to slowly open.
“We did it!” Agnes cheered. “How did you figure it all out?”
“The first puzzle was the beginning of the story.” I began. “It is about stagnation versus expansion. If you stay in the area, you are safe for a time but stuck as you are. The falling discs represent the various clans branching out.”
“That’s amazing,” Yves admitted. “And the next?”
“It is the journey into the unknown.” I continued. “To take the known paths would lead back and death. Only by committing oneself to a path that is random and facing uncertainty can you truly thrive.”
“This is all making a lot of sense,” Yves replied. “And the next?”
“The need of a people that are expanding to make alliances,” I explained. “The Ancient Ones though being descended from ancient dragon deities were mortal like us. They could not rely on their dragon blood and were colonialists not conquers. They strove to work with the people they found to make stronger communities. Each of us had to get on a disc and pick the people closest…it released the disc and opened the next floor.”
“You truly are as good as I knew you were!” Agnes nodded. “I would not have gotten that one.”
“It seems we have solved the puzzle,” I noted as the door opened. “Let us go take a look.”
“I am excited about the treasure!” Yves replied. “Do you think there will be enough to divide?”
“You are a treasure hunter at heart, aren’t you?” I asked. “I thought you were a scholar.”
“I can be both!” Yves admitted. “Some things are worth doing for pure knowledge. However, sometimes something more practical is also exciting. I like the idea of us having the treasure. Perhaps we can finally use it to get free of the bounty hunters clutches and could buy our way to defeating Lord Abraxas. Why… does my fascination with treasure bother you?”
“No,” I replied. “A lot of what the most famous and powerful wizards do could be considered treasure hunting. However, I prefer to profitless in favor of educating more.”
“Such is not always so easy,” Agnes replied. “Some of us need a more immediate solution.”
“Fair enough,” I replied. “Though we might find this treasure hard to sell so quickly.”
Yves shrugged and headed through the door. On the other side was a massive dome that lit up as we entered. There were all sorts of symbols, first lit were the Ancient Ones’ symbols, spread throughout the other symbols. Then other races began to light up, growing brighter as the Ancient Ones’ symbol dimmed, soon leaving only the new clans. A door opened up on the other side, the light came in as well as the sound of crashing waves indicating it connected to a cave near the beaches of the coast beyond the forest.
“This, is it?” Yves asked. “There is no treasure here?”
“There is,” I replied with a nod. “You just refuse to see it.”
“Then explain it to me,” Yves demanded. “Because right now it seems like we went through a lot to find a big room with nothing in it but lights.”
“Not all treasures are gold and artifacts,” I added. “What we saw on the solving of the riddle and this room is the full story of the Ancient Ones.”
“Full story?” Yves asked. “I thought you said that no one really knows what happened to the Ancient Ones.”
“No one had,” I replied. “That is until we and I just saw it.”
“I don’t understand,” Yves replied. “What is the story?”
I nodded as I walked to the center of the room. “The Ancient Ones were strong and successful. They realized though that unless they expand, they will stagnate and fall into obscurity. So, they sent out much of their people, sent in groups to establish new cities and new colonies. They went in all directions, soon finding countless new homes for their people. They discovered other clans, and instead of fighting or conquering them they taught them. They shared their knowledge and strength and tried to make everyone stronger.”
“Yes, I know that part, we all did,” Yves asked. “What about this room? The Ancient Ones lit up then went out?”
“That is the end of the story.” I continued. “They first were mostly planning to make the Ancient Ones more powerful but instead found the benefit of helping others. As they became one with the peoples, they became stronger and the Ancient Ones blended in. They became another myriad of this land’s races and clans, and soon the differentiation of their empire and the other empires were gone. The Ancient Ones were like the protectors of the smaller races, selflessly giving of themselves so others could thrive. That is why the Ancient Ones faded, their empire fades so that many others could brighten. This place is no temple nor treasure vault…it is the last testament to the sacrifice of the Ancient Ones and what they did for the other races of the lands.”
Yves went to retort but instead fell silent, only looking around in awe.
“I realize it is an idea that is abstract and hard to grasp at first,” I explained. “I can imagine that one of the races, likely the nomads knew all too well what the Ancient Ones did. They wanted to honor this story and built this place. They knew that it might be a long time before someone found this story and had to tell it in a way that people could interpret and understand no matter the language they spoke.”
“But the death traps?” Agnes asked. “We could have been killed trying to figure this out.”
“I would imagine that the traps were a decoy,” I replied. “I noticed that the glue they used was not permanent, the spikes that shot only went out to the sides and the fire probably never fully lights.”
“You knew?” Agnes asked. “I thought we were going to die!”
“I was caught up in it,” I admitted. “I actually really enjoyed the puzzles.”
“So, did I,” Yves admitted with a sigh. “Well, I do suppose this is indeed a treasure. It is really cool I just wish I could have profited from it.”
“Well, we still can,” I replied. “This is a discovery that had been waiting for thousands of years. The wizards will crave this information and it will be us that gives it to them.”
“You are right,” Yves said with a start. “No one knows this story but the three of us! Everyone will want to know it and I can finally write the book on the Ancient Ones.”
“Perhaps this means you are going back to being just a scholar?” I suggested.
“Looks like it,” Yve
s said with a laugh. “We should go, the mercenaries are likely lost in the forest, but they won’t stay that way forever. We have a chance to give them the slip and we need to take it.”
“You are right,” I replied. “We got to report this, we got to get you writing that book. Though I think this is just beginning.”
“How do you figure?” Yves asked. “There is nothing here.”
“The Magi Staff is still at large,” I admitted. “We know it is at the cursed castle, but we now have another piece of the puzzle. Since the Ancient Ones and the draconic blood of their ancestors were spread out, it means the staff could be anywhere. Just look at this map of the lands and the clans. It could be anywhere. Good thing we have a good hunch that it is at the cursed castle, and I am grateful that we already have the magic spell book. Obviously, the magic spell book traveled around and was eventually relegated to the dwarves chamber in the Enchanted Swamp.”
“Wait.” Agnes paused. “What if there is more here than we thought… I mean other than the knowledge and the story that is? There’s a slot right at the center of this map.”
I walked over and crouched over the spot where Agnes had found the slot. It seemed that it showed the location of the cursed castle. At a glance, it looked like wear and damage but upon closer inspection, I could tell that it was indeed carved. I took out the stone that the spider queen had given me and carefully put it in the slot. It fit perfectly as if meant to be there. As we watched, the light began to flow from the stone out onto the map. It created a line as if showing us a course from the coast. It went up to the continent to the reefs then went out onto the sea. Yves and Agnes began to identify the islands as they went. Yves shouted, “Look! That’s where Barnard Island is located! Right off the coast of Santa Rocha!”
“Could the staff be on one of the outlier islands?” Yves asked. “Those islands are remote and house some smaller clans. It would be a fantastic place to hide it.”
“I don’t know if it is that simple,” I replied, watching the line bounce from island to island before going out into the sea. The line went out beyond the islands and stopped, the end lighting up like a dot. “That must be where Barnard Island is, and where the cursed castle stands,” I concluded.
Agnes pulled out a map and unfolded it. “There’s nothing out there. That is just open ocean, and it is beyond the razor reefs. It is not even a trade route.”
“That area of seas is said to be cursed,” Yves added. “My uncle was a seaman, and he said that no one sails here, not even pirates or fleets.”
“Sounds like a great conspiracy to hide an island that is not on any map,” I said with a laugh, burning the location of the island into my memory. “You want to hide something that no one will accidentally stumble across you hide it on an island that doesn’t exist in a sea that no one wants to go to. It is perfect. The staff is there at… I can feel it. Perhaps the island is no longer on maps, but the locals probably know where the island is.”
“That will be a long and treacherous journey,” Agnes suggested. “It will not be easy. Even if we shake the mercenaries and get a head start.”
“Well, we never thought this would be easy, did we?” I suggested. “This is the journey of our lives, our fate, our destiny. I can’t speak for the both of you, but I won’t stop now. I can’t stop. I need every advantage possible to beat the Demon Lord.”
“Neither can I,” Yves answered with a laugh. “As much as our journeys thus far have been worthy of note… I cannot stop without the full story. I am with you even if it is to find an island that might not even exist. Not to mention, if I am ever found out that I was part of your party, I would be beheaded, without question. I cannot stop either.”
“I am too,” Agnes added. “I am in till the end and that is all there is to it.”
“Then it is decided,” I said in an encouraged tone. “We leave at once, stopping at nothing to reach that lost island. The Island of Barnard.”
We recovered the stone and headed out of the temple. We were greeted by strong winds and warm sun. We had an unprecedented time free of those who pursued us, and we had to make the best of it. There was a coastal town nearby, and we decided to stay there. We pooled the gold we had between us… it would not be much to last but enough to get things started. It would be a long journey to the lost island and there would literally be chances to make some gold along the way. A trip of wizards in training had a lot to offer and there always were people who needed a little magical wisdom from people who would not report it to registered wizards. This was a grey area in magic but given the circumstances, it was just fine. We already had information the guild would find invaluable, to say nothing from if we recovered the staff. There was a lot to do and for the first time in a while, we had a real sense on how to do it. Though there were a lot of hardships and challenges behind us there were countless more ahead. I felt good, refreshed like my purpose was reignited like a fire under my feet. I could not wait to see what mysteries awaited us on this lost island and could only dream of the Magi Staff that likely waited for us there.
After getting the seeing the second map and the second stone necessary to find the Magi Staff, we needed to set up camp. Exiting the Temple of Terror, we found a cave dwelling on the side of the Masquerade Mountains. We made a fire and gathered some Elder Berries from surrounding trees. We were able to put the berries on a twig and roast them. Roasted Elder Berries became a dietary staple as we had them nearly every night, we fled Gilmore. We were careful not to let the fire get too big, as we did not want to be seen by the roaming bounty hunters. I was certain that Aragon the Wise was only a few steps behind us. This time when we left camp, we would make sure we did not leave a sign that we had been here. We intended on fully cleaning up and not leaving a trace of rubbish out.
After the girls fell asleep, I kept working at the spells in the spell book. Eventually, I would understand and master these spells. All I needed was more practice. Once I could do that, I would be the greatest mage of all time.
In the morning, we will need to head down to Santa Rocha, the coastal village. Once we were there, we’d need to find a way to charter a ship to the Barnard Islands where the cursed castle was as the map and the letter showed. Just one more step until I could get the magi staff. The very thing I needed in order to become the greatest mage of all time. Perhaps on our way to Santa Rocha, we can figure out how the village of Gilmore is doing. I hope they are doing all right with me gone and King Harold as King Hylar
I fell asleep while reading the spell book. As I closed my eyes, visions of white clouds filled my mind. Here we go again, I would have another dream about Hamon. Seeing that lost soul in the Abyss really shook me. I thought for sure it was him. That vision still haunted me of watching that pitted fiend torture McAllister. In my mind, I saw a sleeved hand with gold embroidery reach out for me. “Hamon!” I screamed in my vision.
“Come here my boy, you have done well,” the vision of Hamon said as he pulled me in for a strong embrace. My heart filled with warm emotion being reconnected with my long-lost mentor. I felt tears streaming down my face. All I wanted was to see him one more time in the flesh and not in my dreams. I was so lost without him. As I embraced Hamon, he slowly slipped away until I was only grasping myself.
“Nooooo!” I screamed. I ran after Hamon, where I thought he had gone. I caught up to him. Hamon was now behind me and led me down a hallway further and further down to the unknown. While we walked, he said, “First left, then down, then up and to the left again.”
“What?” I asked. “You’re speaking as if you are going mad,” I replied.
Hamon responded, “Say it with me this time.”
We both said the words before with Hamon leading me, “First left, then down, then up and to the left again.”
“Right!” Hamon exclaimed. “Now say it by yourself.”
I said in a singsong type of voice, “First left, then down, then up and to the left again. What in the hell am I saying,” I a
sked? This was crazy. I was now sounding crazy.
“You will know in due time,” Hamon replied. “I know your memory and intelligence are off of the charts, but your wisdom has been lacking. In any case, I hope you remember these words when they seem fitting,” mused Hamon.
Finally, we both stopped and Hamon knelt down in front of an old statue. The statue was an old deity that had forever been forgotten from time. “What is the significance of this deity?” I asked.
Hamon replied, “It is you.”
Fantastic! I thought to myself. They will erect statues in my honor when all of this is done. “That’s amazing,” I replied. Hamon put his hand on my shoulder and a bright light emerged in the distance.
Hamon leaned over in my ear and said, “You will be brought down to your knees soon, young man. In order to get from where you are to here,” Hamon pointed at the statue and continued, “you must bear a great burden. Also, not everyone is with you will make it. They don’t erect statues in people’s honor for nothing, you must suffer.” My heart sank at that statement. Suffer? Not everyone will make it. This was not encouraging.
I asked, “Why? Who will not make it? Are they going to erect a statue in my honor because I sacrificed myself to become Lord Abraxas’ eternal servant?”
Hamon responded and whispered in my ear. Although his lips moved, no voice came out. When I turned to ask him to speak up, he had vanished into thin air.
More and more tears streamed down my face. First and foremost, I wanted to know if Hamon was alive or was he dead. Second, I wanted to know who was not going to make it, and finally, what suffering was I going to have to do in order to have statues erected in my honor?
Deep in my slumber, I felt myself shaking. I squinted opened my eyes to find that it was morning. I caught a glimpse of Agnes’ strawberry blonde hair glistening in the sun. It was bright and early. I jumped from being jolted out of my sleep. Agnes shook me while saying, “Good morning, Edward. We need to start going down to Santa Rocha.” Despite her waking me, I was beginning to really care for Agnes. She was sweet and a good friend. I felt my cheeks, and I had dried tears on them. I wiped away the dried salt still stuck to my cheeks. I must have been crying in my sleep.