Dragon and Prophesy

by Nathan Chidlow

  Lonus had been long discovered but the secret passageways were not discovered until much later. Discovering ley lines led to the flock of magical creatures. Finally, we had a world where magic can be practiced without bounds- but not without ordinances and governance. Seven major cults were founded and occupied seven different lands; sands, rocks, lava, ice, forest, mist and the sea. The leader of any cult is chosen from the majority. The dragons, even when together cannot make up the majority in any settlement. It was decided that the dragons will have a leader amongst them, but must submit to the leadership of any cult they are part of.

  Cryptnash was chosen. This did not go down well however. Cryptmaw, Cryptnash's brother thinks he should be the leader of his kind and not just that, giving credence to a majority group over the minors is bias. He started a cold war at first, but things soon got brutal. Cryptnash and the leaders of the majority group of the cult he belonged- the cult of the forest -were returning from a conference on earth. They were ambushed at Worcestershire and gruesomely murdered, because they were greatly overpowered. Many mages, dwarfs and other creatures; that were against the decision of ruler-ship, joined Cryptmaw to stage the attack. Cryptmaw sold his heart to dark magic- contrived with an evil witch and became an ashen dragon, Cryptnash did put up a good fight but he was no match for his brother. Only few were killed that day in Cryptmaw's army, but none- who were with Cryptnash- returned home.

  "Worcestershire... that explains why... Is that why they want Jessica? She was working around that area recently... how is she connected to this in anyway?" Ethan wanted answers, he dropped the large pumpkin he was still sucking thirstily from and leaned forward, so that both hands tightly clenched together and rested on his laps.

  "Yes and no... Since that incident, it has been impossible for any dragon to cross the ley lines. The spider's web spell encloses all exits from Lonus. The leadership of the cults came together, to invoke the spell so that it is impossible for dragons to leave Lonus. If any dragon tries crossing the passageway, he will be caught in the webs...forever.

  "And there is no way the spell can be broken?" Ethan asked.

  "Actually, there is one way. It's a powerful sorcery- Cryptmaw tried breaking through it for years but could not, not even a dragon's fire can destroy it- but it is yet delicate. A torch lighted without magic and set to its bosom, will burn it faster than it will consume a dry forest. Your father- such genius! He used the same method to help build a security system for the Prophesies and secrets section in the archive; it can only be opened without magic." He said smiling, his face radiant. "Now, Cryptmaw will find a way to destroy, and not only that, he wants to make sure the Prophesy is not fulfilled."

  "That is why he wants Jessica?" Ethan looked up at him, one eye brow slightly raised.

  "No... It isn’t Jessica. It's you he wants...Ethan," he said, moving away from the fireplace. He sat on the table near the crystal ball, and folded his hands.

  "Me...? How do you mean me...?” Ethan said, he stood up and started pacing, a disturbed look on his face.

  "Cryptmaw smelled your blood in Jessica, when she came close to Lonus." Grusav said, Ethan noticed his hand trembled a little as he stroked his beard.

  He smelled my blood in Jessica... What does that even mean? Ethan said exhaustedly, throwing both hands in the air and then on his waist.

  "Jessica is pregnant." Grusav finally said, he was looking into space, the fire from the fireplace made his eyes glow.

  "She didn't tell me anything... she can't be... was that what she wanted to tell me...? Why can't he just come for me instead...!" Ethan was exasperated, pacing the room much faster, both hands still on his waist. He rubbed his temple lightly with one hand and then dropped it back on his waist at intervals- his head was pounding.

  "Cryptmaw cannot touch her; he knows you will come for her." The archivist said as he lifts his weight off the table. "Come...come and see this," he turned towards the table, to face the crystal ball at the center. Ethan joined him, he walked slowly to the table as though he needed to brace his mind first, before he can digest whatever mystery he was about to see. "Crystal ball...this was made by sorcery and much stronger than the conventional crystal balls fortunetellers use- that kind can only predict the future. There are only three of these in the entire universe, it's like a satellite system that can help you track future events, not just see them- you can track events as they unfold and everyone associated with such. No one knows not where the third is, a generation of archivists have searched fruitlessly. Cryptmaw has one too, stolen... from this archive, that was the day Cyclux had a duel with Migol. I had an engagement on earth. He must have monitored Jessica closely until he got her. However, the magical prowess of a crystal ball is yet as limited as the owner. Cryptmaw cannot leave Lonus, neither can his crystal see beyond the boundaries. It's only powerful and precise when the characters involved in such future events are close enough.

  "So, Jessica was close enough... such that the crystal ball could find her... that was what you meant by 'smell'... right...?" Ethan said, now looking at the crystal ball, transparent quartz, slightly tinged- Ethan thought he had seen a pink color, but then it looked like orange or light red... it soon changed again, from lilac to purple. It must have been tinged with all kinds of color, so that it changes color as you looked at it.

  "Yes, fortunetellers, mages are connected to their crystal balls. Your crystal ball can feel the nearness of an event or people connected with that event. You are somehow hitched to your crystal ball by some sort of magical knot such that you can passive whatever your crystal ball feels or sees.

  "You never saw Jessica here...? I mean- you are not restricted to Lonus...you can see things on earth." Ethan said, curiously looking at the crystal ball still- as though the crystal ball was showing him the answers to his questions already.

  "No ...Jessica is not in my future...you are, "he said, looking up at Ethan. "I don't think she has a major role in it...but you do...just like your father did, in my now 'past future'. However, there is another event I look forward to, which I am watching closely as it unfolds- the one that has been prophesied...er... however, there are other forces that show me things, the crystal ball notwithstanding. I could also sense Jessica's nearness to Lonus... that was why I sent Cyclux."

  "You said I'm a part of your future...what role am I playing in it...? Ethan quizzed him further; an answer was never enough to unravel the mystery- one question led to another.

  "Let's just say that...that future is pretty much here- from the moment you came in through that passageway. You've started playing your role already. The question really is not what role you are playing in mine, but what role am I playing in yours..." Grusav paused a little, as if his words needed time to sink in. "Mr. Ethan...would you like to see the future?" Grusav asked.

  Ethan simply looked at him, not sure if he wants to see future events before they really happened. "Mmm... o-kay," he coughed and swallowed hard.

  "Look intently into the crystal ball," said Grusav, who was now focusing his energy on the translucent object. "flecto bravo clact!" He uttered a spell, his eyes glowing as much as the crystal ball was- brilliantly.

  Ethan's gaze was fixed, as if bound to the object. Colors soon became images, and then pictures, and then visions... the crystal's glow reflecting on his face and his shirt.

  Grusav stood at least a foot away from the table, there was no use looking into the crystal ball- only the one whose future it shows, can see it. He waited patiently for Ethan to absorb every detail of all the crystal ball has to show him.

  "Ha..." Ethan gasped, sweaty- his perspiration dripping from his shirt. He sank hurriedly into the armchair. "I s-aw myself-" Ethan started.

  "Er... no, Ethan... what you have seen belongs to your eyes and soul alone. No other soul is permitted to know them," Grusav quickly interrupted him. "However, as many that will be a part of your quest- mages, other magical creatures, present happenings, the weapons you need, your decisions, your
instinct- will help you shape that future. It's like designing a product, like max100... I know you can relate. What you have is not the real thing but it guides you towards achieving the real thing. You will determine the resources you will be engaging: time, money, people, tools... you will consciously see to it that your goal is achieved.

  I do not want it... I do not want any of this," Ethan said as he stood up from his seat, as quickly as he sat down. I just want to go back to my life, I'm a normal human being...my girlfriend is probably now looking for me instead...this is just a bad dream...none of these makes any sense...! He snapped, and started pacing again.

  "Cryptmaw killed your father." Grusav said, facing a man who now stood... somewhat petrified.

  "No... No, I told you how he died." Ethan said, a feeling of surprise, anger, guilt, fear, made his stomach drop and his chest burn. "It was a fire incident."

  "True, other than...it didn’t happen at the college, while he was working late. It was a dragon's fire." Grusav started, Ethan's eyes widened. "We staged the fire at the college and kept his body there...we had to. Your father had become an important part of the ministry of magic; he heads the department of non-mages, who are believers. He was attacked on one of his last visit to Lonus. Cryptmaw ambushed him and his entourage; seven mages and two house goblins, which were helping them, bear their loads. Moving from one location to another in a split second in space is very possible- when mastered. It wasn't hard for the goblins and the other five mages to wield this kind of sorcery- though some escaped injured. I knew he was in danger, I tried helping but narrowly escaped myself- my left leg was still burning when I landed outside the archive... such excruciating pain. That day, we lost two mages and we lost your fath-er. I bore him in my hands and took him to his office as suggested by the department of non-mages, ministry of magic. I had to turn down their first suggestion of taking him to his library back at the house- he really wanted you to have the house." Grusav recounted in a shaky tone. "We had to stage an accident somewhere... so I took him to the office instead."

  Ethan stood at the same position...without moving an inch. He folded his arms, which will help hide his trembling hands. He had turned white; he was finding it difficult to believe.

  "If you indeed want to save Jessica, you need to start preparing for the journey ahead- it's a long one." Grusav added quickly as he walked towards a shelf, close to the fire place. He withdrew an old, brown, tattered sheet of paper, a small bowl of ink and a quill. He handed it over to Ethan. "Write whatever you want to tell your parents and any other person...that need not worry about you or Jessica, let them know you are both fine and you are on your way to Al Sofouh.

  Ethan frowned, "you know about that too?"

  Grusav only smiled as he gestured for him to sit down on a seat, behind the table. "Address it like you would address a letter, an e-mail message or text message, whichever you prefer- it will appear in their mail box or cell phone.

  "In this old tattered-" Ethan waved the brown paper in the air, not knowing what to call it.

  "Show some respect to that old tattered paper...the veron messenger has delivered messages for centuries and for thousands of different creatures. And it will send any message... by post or electronically. Your message will be delivered on a clean paper and in a beautiful envelop, if by post, or right to whichever device you've sent it, if you choose... technology." Grusav interposed.

  Ethan wrote down a text message for his grandparents and wrote Mr. Alger's number at the top- where 'address' was indicated. He wrote another one at the back of the paper, which was to be delivered to Sarah.

  Grusav collected the paper when he was certain Ethan had written everything he wanted to communicate- of course, he had lied that everything was alright.

  "veron swiftron" Grusav said, with both of his palms over the brown paper. Ethan watched his words rise from the paper, burn into ashes and then melt into thin air, he turned the paper over and repeated the same ritual. "Now...we need to start preparing you. There are seven items you will need to face Cryptmaw. The preparation I will be giving you here is for that journey."

  "What items- ?" Ethan asked

  "Scattered in the seven cults, all over the seven lands on Lonus are these items; forged, weaved or made by magic: a helm, a chest plate, pants, gloves, boots, a shield, and a sword." Grusav informed him. "Cyclux...! We need to get Mr. Ethan prepared...stop eavesdropping behind that door...and just come in!" Cyclux came in, avoiding eye contact. He has been listening to every word.

  He's indeed young...he can't be this old." Ethan thought.

  "Bring the pollen sack, we need to get ready, so you can leave before sun down." Grusav said to Cyclux.

  "It should be evening already..." Ethan tried to remind them, should they have forgotten he's been with them almost all day.

  "Uh...uh uh..." Cyclux chuckled, still avoiding Ethan's eyes.

  "You've actually been here for about two days according to the GMT. The Lonus outruns planet earth at every race around the sun, Mr. Ethan. "Grusav was now wearing his usual smile, talking about Lonus seems to regale him always. Cyclux brought a small sack. Ethan observed it looked like a knapsack but much smaller, fluffy and pale yellow; it will only accommodate his boots and one or two books. Grusav walked towards the greenish-brown cupboard and unclosed it. It looked like a refrigerator on the outside but it can take in as much supplies as a pantry can.

  "Fruits, vegetable, steaks, enough bread...and bread...milk too..." Grusav continued collecting supplies this way, food preserved by warmth in the upper part of the cupboard and something like a refrigerant preserves the ones in the lower part. "Cyclux, get me two broomsticks, you might be needing them...the map! I almost forgot...check the shelf. There is a compass beside it, bring that too...you might need the veron messenger sometime..." Grusav continued this way, directing Cyclux and filling up the pollen bag. Ethan watched mouth-opened. The small sack he thought could barely accommodate anything is now swallowing just anything that is thrown inside, before his very eyes! The bag was finally tied at the mouth when Grusav was satisfied with how much he has squeezed into it. "It's time to get you ready Mr. Alger." Grusav said, facing Ethan, addressing him as such for the first time since they met.

  "I hope I'm not being dressed up in some Halloween costume or squeezed into a child's cloak..." Ethan said, looking at both men and the sack.

  "Mmm... Let’s start with those..." Grusav said, looking down at Ethan's shoes. Ethan had worn a shirt, a pant, and his leather shoes the previous morning on earth, before his unplanned encounter with Cyclux.

  "My what...? He asked, also looking down- his eyes following Grusav's. "Oh my-how do you keep doing that..." He was now wearing a pair of hairy, grey jungle boots.

  "Your shoes will not last a day out there Mr. Alger... now, Cyclux will take it from here..." Grusav said, still limping but slightly- towards the door.

  "Cyclux will what...? Oh c'mon... no-" Ethan protested, but Grusav had slouched through the door and slammed it shut. Protesting was useless. Ethan prepared his mind for whatever was coming.

  "Er... I will... just get you dressed sire... no magic... no magic." Cyclux said coldly.

  "I'm sorry to-... you know... I don't mean to sound-" Ethan said, placatingly.

  CHAPTER SIX

  CULT OF THE SANDS

  They were now standing outside the mountain, under which the archive is hidden away. Grusav was standing many feet away, watching Ethan and Cyclux disappear around a bend. A long, dark wine robe had replaced Ethan's shirt and a long scarf around his neck. Cyclux was also clad in the same type of robe, except that his robe was black and he could be everything but smart in it. He was carrying the pollen sack, much smaller than a knapsack, but he was walking as though he was bearing the whole world. This made the way he walked, awkward. Despite the size of the pollen sack, you will have to bear the weight of everything you put inside, as you would have done if carrying a normal sack. Cyclux had declined Ethan's offer to carry it.


  It was almost sun set by the time they left the archive. Now, it was already getting dark, they got to a barren area of land where there was little precipitation and consequently living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The stars were radiantly shinning in the distant sky, arranged in an orderly, but strange pattern Ethan had never seen before- like a circular maze in the dark sky. A half-moon stood somewhere at the center- or so it seemed from where Ethan stood- like a creature trapped within the maze. "Amazing…! Amazing…!" Ethan could not hide his delight.

  "The moon is a twin on Lonus, only half of one came out tonight...the stars are not sparse tonight...er...there seems to be balance in the skies." Cyclux said, looking at the dark clouds above. Ethan continued in his admiration, he barely heard Cyclux.

  Arid, cold air embraced them, making their noses dry and dusty. This made them to sneeze severally and the blowing wind tickled the back of their throat as they did. They quickly covered their faces, only revealing enough to see the path ahead. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to be stripped of what is left of it. It looked like the sand was pulling on their boots, and they walked slower than they did before, already fatigued by the journey. Ethan gulped severally from one of the bottles Grusav had helped pack into the sack. Now, he and Cyclux bore the weight of their supplies by taking turns.

  "Oh no…! That's not what I'm thinking it is..." Cyclux cried alarmingly, pointing to the far distance. Ethan tried to see what Cyclux was so afraid of. A strong wind had lifted enough particles, aloft in sand. "Dust storm...! Run!" Cyclux screeched. Tired legs, an awkwardly heavy bag, drifting sand beneath their feet, made running as fast as they should, very difficult. The dust storm was now closing up, but they wouldn't give up just yet, there was a cave ahead- they had to get to it. Dry air brushed pass their faces, a louder sound of whirl wind suggested the dust storm was closer. It was now carrying more particles, roaring angrily. The cave was now closer, but Cyclux could barely lift his leg anymore. He stumbled and fell... face down. If a man is cursed with an ageing spell, he might still be young on the inside but you will embrace all the shortcomings that come with old age.