Zodiac Awakening

by Drew Smith

  Lumus took a step forward, and looked over his shoulder back at Brinx. Lumus smiled as he disappeared into the blue sphere.

  The bright moon was overwhelming, and the gentle breeze ran through Lumus’ hair. The once dark sky that he had known his whole life was finally gone, as if the blue sphere was the passage to his own dream world. He laid flat on the ground staring up into the bright sky. Birds were flying peacefully, wild critters, and animals ran among the fields.

  “This is paradise,” He told himself.

  The clear blue sky lit up his heart, and a smile struck his face as he lay like a child in the tall grass. He sat up, and his happy mood was taken away as swiftly as it came. A cloud of smoke in the distance too big to be from a campfire engulfed the distant sky. He immediately jumped to his feet, and he made his way toward the fire with thoughts of home, and his father Rozell in his mind.

  (“This place… it is different. I cannot feel the planet. It’s as if the planet is dead, no whispers no cries of pain, no sorrow to be heard.”) Brinx thought to himself.

  “You there! Demon!” Shouted an angry voice from afar.

  “Demon?” Brinx blurted out. Four men armed with rusty blades made their way through the trees toward him.

  “Fellow warriors, I do not mean you harm.” he pleaded.

  “Your trickery will not work on us monster!” The men replied.

  “You will meet your end at my blade!” The man announced as he charged at him with the others following swiftly behind.

  “You are making a mistake.” He said calmly. Brinx crouched, and jumped behind the men onto a tree branch.

  “I will not fight you.” He shouted.

  The men turned in surprise.

  “No demon will walk this planet while I still breathe, monster!” One of the men shouted.

  The men charged once again toward him, but he just leapt again to another tree. Two of the men took their bows from their backs, and readied arrows. Brinx formed his defensive armor around his body.

  (“They leave me no choice.”) Brinx stood up on the branch he had landed on. An arrow shot towards him from one of the men. Brinx caught the arrow, and destroyed it with his hand. “I will say this once more, I will not…” Before Brinx could finish talking another arrow was shot. Brinx jumped again, but this time toward the men, slapping the arrow from his path and pouncing atop one of the men. One man ran in fear, while the other two charged once more with their blades. Brinx shot out vines from his palm, knocking one of the men unconscious. The other man continued with his blade aimed straight at him. Brinx and the last man stared at each other until the man thrusted his sword forward.

  “I am truly sorry for this.” Brinx said sadly. He shot another vine from his free hand throwing the man far against a tree, knocking him unconscious as well.

  (“These people are brutal, and they seem no better than the demons of Dystopia…wild, and reckless…”)

  Lumus ran through the tall grass as fast as he could. The fire below, roared just like his farm. His eyes teared as the memories flooded back.

  “Help!” A woman shouted from the village. He was still running toward the fire, but was searching for the source of the voice he had heard too. An enormous screech forced Lumus to cover his ears.

  (“Ah.... What is that?”) Lumus said to himself.

  “Help! Please somebody help me”, the woman called out again. Lumus drew his sword, and looked around. He could hear the screams for help, but the ringing in his ears threw him off.

  “Where are you?” Lumus shouted. He made his way closer to the smoke, and found a small village in flames. No one was in sight, but the bodies of the helpless upon the ground. He dropped to his knees with a look of sadness in his eyes.

  “I’m too late,” he said under his breath. He stared at the burning homes of the village. He noticed a girl not even ten years old. She was missing an arm, and blood covered her dirty white dress as she lay on the ground.

  “I… I was too late…!” Lumus cried out as his body began to light up. He began to emit a bright light, and it shot from his body passing through the flames. The flames blew away as the dirt lifted from the village.

  “Anyone! Is there anyone there?” Lumus shouted once more. No one answered him though, and so he had closed his eyes with defeat. A single tear slid down from his face as he turned and walked away from the village.

  The light from the blue moon was muffled by the thick tree tops of Varlif forest. Orson walked alone happy that he appeared so close to the Roon caves, but he came to a large gate he didn’t remember.

  (“I don’t remember this gate here before.”) Orson stood firm in front of the large gate to the West Mountains.

  (“A secret haven, but why would they have built this? It’s only an invite telling the enemy that they are here…”) He thought to himself. Noises in the bushes around him began to come closer.

  “I’m not alone. Who’s there? Show yourself!” Orson demanded. A pack of Krotin emerged from the bushes.

  Pale green skin, and light purple armour covered their bodies. They commonly carry small daggers, or spears, and their speed makes them very dangerous in large numbers.

  (“Krotins? How could so many be here?”) He thought as he drew his sword. A larger demon followed behind the Krotins, emerging from the bushes. It was an odd demon that resembled a cat in many ways, cleared the tree line toward him, but its species was unfamiliar to Orson. He was surrounded, and outnumbered.

  “Give up and I shall spare your life, knight.” The demon stated

  “Ah! The cat can speak.” Orson announced with a laugh.

  “You dare laugh at me human? Said the mysterious demon.

  “I am Sir Orson Hefreny, Knight of Twilight, and protector of the people.” Orson proudly announced.

  “I didn’t ask for your name, and it matters not, for now you will be taken like all the others. Krotins, seize the human.” Orson paused for a moment.

  “Taken? Not likely. You be a good little kitty, and die!” Orson went charging into the crowd of Krotins swinging his sword recklessly, again and again.

  “There’s too many of them…” Orson began to get tired as he swung away.

  “I am Antsos and you will remember my name human, for you will be begging me for mercy soon enough!” Antsos laughed.

  (“Antsos? I have heard that name before…He couldn’t be?”) Orson thought to himself as he fought off the Krotins. They began to overwhelm him, as they jumped on him and they eventually pulled him to the ground.

  “I can’t die…. here.” Orson said as he fell to the ground, he was covered in sweat, and barely able to grasp his sword.

  “Oh you will not die human, but you will wish that you had,” Antsos said as he turned, and walked slowly into the darkness of the forest.

  Brinx began his search, jumping at incredible speed through the trees with the wind blowing in his face. With no constant whispers of pain from the planet Dystopia, he could finally think clearly. He was unfamiliar with this new landscape, so he had no sense of direction. With no voice of the planet, he could not tell what direction was what. He made his way through Dark Wood Forest that lead him through thick woods, and overcrowded trees that did not let the moonlight in. The Forest was great cover for him as he jumped through the trees undetected by anything, or anyone who may consider him a threat like his previous encounter.

  “I do hope Lumus and Orson are having better luck than I am.” He muttered to himself.

  Orson woke up slowly. He must have been knocked out when the Krotins attacked him. He looked around, and noticed his sword and armour had been taken. Sounds of screaming and chains tightening were heard from afar. Cries of pain and agony filled Orson’s head. He shut his eyes as blood started dripping down his face. His arms were bound, and his legs hung just above the ground. A tight rope fastened around his neck. He gave his head a shake to move the dripping blood from reaching his eyes. He slowly opened them to see a dark empty room with stone walls. Blo
od covered the floor around him, and partially the walls in front of him. Again cries of pain were heard coming from the halls.

  (“No window or any sign of light. Where am I?”) Orson wondered. A door opened nearby, and he heard footsteps come closer to him. Orson’s vision was still blurry, as blood continued to fall down his face to his eyes. A shadowy figure approached his holding cell.

  “Who’s there?” Orson cried out. Footsteps began to circle him.

  “The question is, who are you?” The voice said.

  “Why would you be at the gates of Roon Caves? What did you hope to find there?” The voice said with a laugh. The footsteps continued to circle him slowly.

  “I won’t tell you anything you monster,” Orson spit a mouthful of blood in protest to the demands.

  “I see, so you won’t tell me your name, or your reason for why you are here? So you are no use to me then?” The mysterious voice said calmly.

  “I am a proud protector of Twilight, and the defender of all these lands. You do not scare me. If I am taken down, another will rise up to take my place.” Orson took a deep breath as if he had used all of the air in his lungs.

  “Judging by your armour, and the glyph of Twilight on it you were someone of importance to the people?” The voice asked.

  Orson coughed.

  “I am Sir Orson Hefreny!” Orson said proudly. The footsteps stopped.

  “Hefreny?” The voice hesitated once he heard his name.

  “You know my name then?” Orson said with a smile.

  “I do actually, Sir Orson. You see your family has been quite the nuisance, but don’t you worry. I will find your brother, as I have found you, and deal with him soon enough.” The footsteps continued toward the exit. Orson tried to open one of his eyes for a look at whom he had talked to.

  “Zelkem? He is alive?” Orson said with hesitation. The blurry image of the man turned his head to look over his shoulder.

  “I am Lears by the way. Welcome to Twilight prison. Do make yourself at home, and enjoy your stay.” Lears walked away with an evil laugh as the doors were shut tight, and locked behind him.

  “My brother… Zelkem…?” Orson said as he started to cry.

  The blue moon above was brighter than the one on Dystopia. Lumus smiled as he thought of the stories he read on the farm. They told of the hero in a world with darkness, but the hero would always look to the sky with a smile when things got to be too much. He continued across a bridge just past the Dark Wood Forest. There were no sounds of laughter; no kids playing in the fields. No people working the farms, and no one traveling the roads.

  “The stories I read are nothing like what I thought. All I have seen is death and emptiness.” Lumus said to himself as he began to walk across the bridge. His eyes caught a glimpse of a sign. It read Nuran Region: Breedlands West, and Roon Mountains: Northwest.

  The blue moon began to set, and Lumus looked to the sky in confusion. Lumus paused then looked down the Northwest road to the mountains.

  “I’m used to the darkness, I might as well continue. Maybe Orson and Brinx are ahead of me.”

  Without warning, Brinx jumped from a tree near Lumus, landing just behind him with a crash. Lumus immediately drew his blade, and had turned to point it at Brinx’ throat.

  “I’m glad this experience has kept you civil my friend,” Brinx snickered.

  Lumus shot a small grin as if to say he was happy to see him. Lumus put his sword away, and continued to walk north. Brinx stood still for a moment, and turned his head, toward the sign pointing to Roon Mountains to the north. He smiled, and slowly caught up to Lumus.

  The tall grass along the path blew gently in the night wind. Stars emerged in the sky. Brinx had his defensive armour on, and Lumus had his hand on his sheath. Both keeping an eye out for any movement. Brinx started to notice the tall grass moving more frequently than the wind blew. Without looking at Lumus he slowly drew a vine from his palm, and stretched it to Lumus a little further ahead to get his attention. Lumus turned his head to see him looking in the grass. He noticed him nod to signal the movement in the distance. They kept their speed, and said nothing to each other. Lumus spotted movement to his right just up ahead. Slowly they made their way to the end of the bridge, and Lumus stopped at the far side. Brinx stood in the middle, still looking at the tall grass. When they stopped, so did the movement. The steady stream of water under them was almost soothing, the night sky lit up with the bright red moon showering them with little visibility. Lumus drew his sword. Brinx formed his face guard, expecting a battle. The wind was still blowing gently, and the water was still.

  The two warriors stood in wait, expecting to defend the bridge. Brinx ran back out to the road they had just come from, and released a thorny vine from each of his palms. He shot them straight out into the tall grass on both sides of the road, and began to spin, picking up speed rapidly. The tall grass tore easily making a huge circle around Brinx. Lumus concentrated on his energy, making a layer of light slowly brighten the area around him. He leaped into the sky, and the bright light around him pulsed from his body, and into his sword. As he fell back to the ground, the light retracted back momentarily, before being shot from his body again with such force that it ripped the grass around the north side of the bridge and into the sky. Brinx turned back to Lumus, and walked across the bridge. They began to head north once again, knowing the threat was dealt with. As they walked away from the bridge a pack of Krotins slowly stumbled out of the grass, bursting into a white light that shot up into the sky as they died.

  Antsos opened Orson’s cell door, and three Krotins followed behind, carrying various tools stained with blood.

  “So, Sir Orson, by orders of Lord Lears we come bearing gifts for you.” The doors shut behind them, and Orson’s eyes open wide with fear.

  “Now Orson you will…” Antsos began.

  “It’s Sir Orson to you, demon.” Orson interrupted.

  “Is that so?” Antsos replied by backhanding him across his face. His head shot to the side. He paused, then spit blood from his mouth.

  “My mistake. Sir Orson, you see Lord Lears believes you may be of some help to us,” Antsos continued.

  “I’ll never help any of you,” Orson announced proudly. Antsos hit him once more with another backhand to his face.

  “You see my friend, you haven’t any choice in the matter. My Krotin friends here have their toys with them to play with you. I’m certain that you will come around.”

  Antsos began to head for the door, but he turned to Orson, and hit him once more.

  “One for the road,” Antsos said with a grin. He began to laugh as he left Orson’s cell. Screams from Orson pulsed throughout the holding area, as Antsos walked down a dark hallway with a grin on his face.

  “Lumus, I feel like we are nearing our destination.” Brinx said worriedly.

  Lumus looked further ahead and spotted a small mountain range shielded by forest.

  “Let’s head toward the forest over there. It should have a path to the caves that we can follow,” Lumus replied.

  “I hope Orson made it all right,” Brinx said with an uncertain tone under his breath.

  Rain began to fill the land swallowing it like a waterfall. Birds took refuge in the trees, and animals ran and hid. Brinx, and Lumus approached Varlif Forest. The forest was wet, and the path was becoming muddy. Lumus took a short pause as he gazed back into the Breedlands. The thunderous lands lit up brightly with strike after strike to the flat lands below. Brinx didn’t look back though, but he did pause to wait for Lumus. He looked back to the forest, with a sigh of relief for missing the downpour. Brinx let him pass, then followed behind covered in mud from his knees down to his feet. The moonlight from the night sky went into hiding from the rain as the cloud cover gave it the perfect hiding place.

  Varlif Forest seemed endless, but Lumus pressed on in hopes of seeing Orson at every turn. Brinx kept his mind about the trees shifting his eyes from side to side for any hint of mo
vement.

  “I’ll take a look from the treetops,” Brinx said as he dove through the forest treetops. He jumped straight into the sky, bursting through the leaves of the trees. He was suspended in the sky long enough to see a large gate blocking the entrance to the Roon Caves further ahead. He landed back where he once stood with a crash. Lumus turned around.

  “Maybe a little more warning when you jump off like that?” Lumus waved his hand in front of his face to clear the mud that had shot up at his face. Brinx pointed toward the mountain.

  “Not far from here, just past these trees, there is a large gate built in front of the mountains. I believe that’s our way in.” Brinx declared.

  Lumus was still wiping mud from his face.

  “If you say so Brinx, let’s get going then,” Lumus said with a frown as he looked at his mud-covered clothes.

  Brinx was lost in his thoughts as he walked alongside Lumus.

  (“I cannot feel the forest, or the planet as I did on Dystopia. The forest doesn’t tell me anything, and no cries for help, no plea for rescue....This feels odd to me.”) Brinx thought to himself. He had a look of worry on his face.

  (“On Dystopia I was able to feel the planet’s cries for help. The planet would guide me, but Twilight is different. With no Tree of Gaia the voice is not speaking to me, and I am free to make my own choices.”) He began to think what would happen if he had died on Twilight. With no voice of the planet, he thought his connection to Dystopia was broken, and if this were true he would not reincarnate if he had died. For the first time, Brinx worried that he would be vulnerable, and his courage began to falter with his thoughts.

  Roon Caves was just ahead. Lumus walked on, staring ahead hoping to spot Orson. The giant gate that had been blocking the caves was open now. Without a word, Brinx leaped off into the forest cover, and Lumus quickly drew his sword. Lumus looked around, but saw nothing. Brinx was nowhere in sight either as he had completely camouflaged with the green of the trees. Lumus saw a young man at the cave entrance walking out from the shadows. His hair was shaggy, reaching down to his shoulders. His brown hair matched his eyes. The boy wore baggy brown pants with a black belt on his waist, but no shirt. His arm guards looped over his middle finger, and fastened around his forearm. Lumus focused on his sword. After a short moment the sword became engulfed in light coming from his body, then he pointed his sword at the man in the cave.