Chapter Seven – The Quest Begins
“So that’s that,” Hannah said quietly once everybody had made their way across the marbled floor of the great hall once more, “we leave in the morning.”
“So starts your quest,” uttered the King.
William remained silent as thoughts of destiny occupied his young mind.
“Try not to worry, Prince,” reassured Avarian, “it’ll be fine I’m sure.”
That night, everybody went to their rooms early to pack up and to get ready for the next morning. William entered his room after wishing his father, his sister and Avarian a good night and found that all of his new clothes had already been packed for him in a single, large bag, with a small piece of paper attached to it which read; ‘See you soon, young Prince.’
William awoke to a gentle knock on his door as he stretched out in his huge double bed for what he knew, was going to be, the last time in a long while. He slowly made his way down to the great hall where everybody was already waiting. The King hugged his daughter tightly as William walked slowly down the stairs and across the marbled floor toward them. The King turned to face his son as William placed his bag on to the floor and he wrapped his strong arms around him. William squeezed his father just as tightly in return as the feelings that he had felt the last time that he said goodbye flooded instantly back.
“We have to go,” Hannah said softly after a while.
“Yes … Go on now, all of you,” the King quietly agreed as he released his grip and so too, did William, “may the Gods be with you.”
William picked up his heavy bag and the three adventurers made their quiet way down the huge white staircase.
“We’ll use the unix,” Hannah announced as they got to the bottom, “I’ve had John and Matthew ready them for us. You can fly with me Avarian.”
“Very well,” Avarian replied quietly.
The three of them briskly hurried to were their loyal beasts patiently awaited them.
“Good morning John,” Hannah smiled as they entered the stables, “good morning Matthew.”
“Good morning Miss Hannah,” replied John as William walked up to Heradex and Hannah and Avarian approached Arcadian, “Morning Prince.”
William had already mounted his unix and was confidently trotting out of the stall before he could even be assisted - whilst Hannah and Avarian took a little longer.
“Just hold on Avarian!” Hannah shouted as Arcadian began to gallop. Heradex, as always, began to copy Arcadian and as he took off, so too, did she. Before long, they were both high up in the air once again as they flew swiftly over the same rooftops and waterways until they could see the small airfield below them. The Firefly was fully loaded with its crew - along with its new twenty members - by the time the two unix had landed and trotted back aboard. Zaybian and Thysis were stood behind the manned control panels - as they usually were;
“Ah!” Roared Zaybian, as he turned to see the three rider’s approach, “I was told that we would carry the great Avarian. Now I see it for myself!”
Avarian laughed, “You always did know how to welcome an old man!” He bellowed as the three dismounted and Ivor slowly approached.
“Hello Ivor,” smiled Hannah, “did you enjoy the theatre?”
Ivor took Arcadian’s reigns in one hand and Heradex’s in the other, “It was a nice change Miss Hannah - didn’t see a lot of the show mind. Mind you … I did enjoy seeing my family again,” he smiled gently before he led the two unix toward the mighty double doors.
“There’s been a cabin built for you - on the deck,” announced Thysis, as he walked towards Avarian.
“Thank you old friend,” Avarian smiled, “if you’ll all excuse me then, I should like to retire,” he said quietly as he headed for the thin metal staircases.
“What heading do we take?” Asked one of the soldiers at the controls.
“We head for Feliisha,” Hannah loudly announced as she looked with a smile, at her brother. The door of the airship slowly closed and the Firefly slowly lifted gracefully into the air once more. Higher and higher it climbed until it was eventually back home in the clouds.
“Come on,” Hannah said softly as she gestured to William, “I’ll show you your cabin.”
William picked up his bag of clothes and followed his sister. They headed for one of the thin metal staircases and continued up to the third level of cabins. They then stopped at one of the doors, just before they reached the ladder that led up to the deck.
“This one’s yours,” Hannah said with her usual grace, “mine is right at the end. I’ll let you settle in; we’ve got a three-day flight ahead of us,” she smiled before she walked further along the walkway headed for her own cabin. William slowly opened the door that he was stood beside. Inside was small, with a plain bed, a rickety old wardrobe and an old empty bookshelf squeezed tightly in. He threw his bag onto the bed from the doorway and rushed to the small ladder to go up to the deck. Slowly he climbed up and unlatched the hatch - before struggling to push it open. A newly built cabin sat centred proudly on the deck, sheltered by the mighty red balloon that carried them. Light mist had once again invaded and had completely surrounded it. As William approached, its tiny door slowly opened and Avarian lay on top of his simple bed within.
“Come in, Prince,” he said quietly as he sat slowly up and gestured for William to sit beside him, “you wish to know about Feliisha,” he whispered with a smile.
“Well, yes,” William quietly replied in amazement, “what do you know of it?”
“It is a floating Kingdom of four islands,” Avarian replied with a fond smile, “the islands are stationary above the great waterfalls to the North - far from the boundaries of Glitherhiem.”
William listened to the old man intently as he continued on, “Legend has it, that it was where Aurora was born. She was the beautiful daughter of a great Lord, then one day, her beauty caught Remanon’s eye and he took her for his wife - making her a Goddess. Leptar grew insatiably jealous and plotted Remanon’s demise. For his treachery, he was banished from Mythica and cast down to Haidreal, where he now resides,” Avarian paused, “the Great Oracle is where Aurora shall speak to you, I’m sure of it.”
The pair sat - side by side - in silence for some time, contemplating what lied ahead; “Are your spirits with you now?” William quietly asked as he broke the silence.
“Yes, my Prince,” Avarian grinned, “they are always with me,” Avarian’s smile slowly faded and a look of concern replaced it, “we have a long flight ahead of us, Prince. I have time enough to listen. What is the matter?”
“It’s just that …” William paused for a few moments in deep thought.
“A lot is expected of you,” Avarian replied as his smile returned.
“Well, yes,” confirmed William.
“I know that it seems like you are alone, but we are all here with you. Even in the midst of darkness, there is always a speck of light.”
William thought about the darkness beyond his bedroom door and the tiny spec of light that had convinced him to leave it.
“Thank you friend,” William said with a grateful smile as he stood up and left the small cabin. He slowly walked over to the railing that surrounded the deck and peered out into the mist that engulfed the tiny ship. As he lent on the railing and gazed out in thought, he noticed a small dark shape - just too far to make out - that seemed to follow them. He watched the small shadow for quite some time as he lost himself, deep in thought, once more. Suddenly, he noticed that the strange shadow had gone and as he looked around, it once again returned.
“It would seem, that a friend has found you,” said Avarian - who was now stood behind him.
The shape suddenly grew in size as it closed the gap between them. William lit up with excitement when he saw his little sylus, as it flew along the side them, close enough to touch.
“Draygor!” He shouted as he laughed.
Draygor was quite a bit larger by now, but still smal
l enough to be William’s little sylus.
“How has he grown so quickly?” He asked as amazement took a hold of him - his eyes still fixated on his little pet as it flew strongly against the wind.
“Sylus have a quick growth cycle,” Avarian replied, “yet they live for thousands of years in their adult form.”
William watched with a smile for quite some time before it flew back into the thick mist beyond and disappeared from sight.
“That was amazing!” William exclaimed as he gazed out - still with a smile - in the hope that it would return.
“Yes, it was,” his companion replied, “You will see him again, Prince, but not today. What do you say we get something to eat?”
“I am hungry,” smiled William as he turned to face his friend.
“Then let us go below deck. I believe it is time.”
The two friends headed back to the hatch and slowly descended into the ship.
“Hello you two!” Smiled Hannah as she walked up behind them. Have you come to see what Ivor has for us?”
The three friends, surrounded by soldiers who were all headed for the same place, headed toward the staircase that took them down to the belly of the ship.
The mighty double doors opened inwards as they approached them and for the first time, they revealed to William, their secrets within. Before them, now stood four wooden stables - Arcadian stood in one of them and Heradex stood in another. To their left and tucked away by the wall, sat an open hatchway in the floor. Hannah proceeded down the small ladder within, followed by Avarian and then by William. They emerged to find numerous soldiers sat at two long metal tables that were completely covered with all kinds of delicious foods as they ate heartily. The three friends sat down where they could and filled their plates with hungry eyes. The three day flight went in pretty much the same way - the crew ate when they could, slept when they could and enjoyed one another’s company.
On the morning of the fourth day, there came a knock on William’s door; “William!” Shouted Hannah, “We are approaching Feliisha, come and see!”
After a short while, the door was pulled rapidly open and William rushed to the ladder that took him up to the deck where Zaybian had waited to offer his hand to him as he climbed up. William reached for the friendly hand and as they pulled together, he jumped excitedly up into the sunlight. William and Zaybian ran over to join the rest of the crew as they gazed in wonder at the four mountainous continents that floated effortlessly before them. Suspended in mid-air, they were completely covered in lush greenery, as small buildings clumped together in various pockets across them and flocks of small white birds flew gracefully above them. Their many streams and oceans - that poured swiftly over their edges - raced down like thunderstorms to join monumental waterfalls that poured deep into a great canyon far below them and dove deep into the very planet itself, sending plumes of vapour that rocketed back up, high into the already saturated air.
“The birthplace of Aurora,” Zaybian uttered in amazement as the Firefly wafted closer to land at the small village of Sunburst. As it did so, people in white robes and smiles upon their faces came out in droves to greet them. Everyone quickly rushed back into the belly of the ship as it landed, eager to step foot on to the beautiful land around them. The door slowly opened, as Hannah and William stepped into the glorious day - followed quickly by the rest of the crew - as they gazed all around in complete wonder.
“Greetings,” said an old man with a smile that welcomed them all.
“We are here to see the Oracle,” Hannah said quickly.
The man looked at William with utter surprise, “You are … William!” He said in excitement, “Welcome to Feliisha!” The old man stuttered, “The Oracle is this way!”
William looked to Hannah in wait of her, “Go!” She laughed, “You are the one, not I.”
William smiled and nodded in acceptance, before proceeding to follow the old man into the wilderness.
He led William to a simple building, within which, stood the mighty stone statue of Aurora. He smiled gently as William gazed at the statue; “I shall leave you then,” he said quietly as he walked slowly away.
William stepped closer to the magnificent monument with his eyes fixed upon hers.
“I am here Aurora,” he whispered as he trembled slightly in the ambiance.
As he watched through bewildered eyes, the face of the statue came to life. She had perfect skin and turquoise eyes, with lush red lips as she smiled gently at him.
“Hello William,” she whispered.
William continued to tremble and remained silent - unable to speak.
“To enter Haidreal, you will need the blood of a Demonite, poured from a magic vial. Look at the palm of your hand, William.”
Slowly, William raised the palm of his right hand up to face him. To his shock, he found a six-sided star, encompassed by a circle marked into his hand that glowed profusely.
“Journey to Devil’s Rock, where you shall meet Jonas. He is a loyal servant to me and will help you to obtain the blood on production of my symbol. To leave Haidreal, once you have entered it, you will need an artefact worn around your neck: the Lomaxian Cross. The location of the Cross however, is unknown to me. Just a single drop of your own blood, mixed with that of the Demonite’s, shall gain you entrance.”
William listened carefully as she spoke.
“Good luck, young Prince,” she whispered as her face once again turned gradually to stone.
William looked again at his hand before he slowly walked back out into the green lushness of the Kingdom.
All of the crew were sat among the tall grasses and the wild flowers when William slowly emerged from the wilderness. Hannah stood up and walked toward him;
“What is it?” She asked, eagerly awaiting his answer.
“Journey to Devil’s Rock,” he replied.
“Then, it is a very good job that we can fly,” Avarian sinisterly injected as he joined them.
“What do you mean?” Asked William, still bewildered by what he had just witnessed.
“The mountain that is Devil’s Rock, sits within a dead forest. It is filled forever with mist,” Avarian’s voice became quite angry as he spoke, “festering creatures live within it that would strip the very flesh from your bones given half the chance … It is better that we fly above them.”
“Well,” said Hannah with a sigh, “we’ve been flying for three days straight,” she looked at the old man that had led William to the Oracle. “Is it alright if we stay here for tonight?”
“You are all most welcome to stay, for as long as you like,” the old man smiled.
Hannah turned to her crew - who were still sat around in the grass; “We set off in the morning!” A cry of cheer came from the men before they set off in small groups to explore their surroundings. Zaybian and Thysis lay back in the tall grass and closed their eyes.
“What say we set the unix loose?” Hannah said as she smiled at William.
“How do you know that they’ll come back?” William quickly asked, “They might decide to stay.”
“Then so be it,” Hannah replied.
“They’ll come back young Master, you wait and see!” Ivor shouted as he disappeared into the ship. Before long, the two unix ran out of the Firefly and flew out of sight.
“Did you see that?” William exclaimed after they had flown inches from his head.
“Aye William!” Bellowed Zaybian with his eyes still closed.
As the heat of the day increased, more and more of the crew slipped off into the ship and retired to their cabins. The Feliishons had long returned to their homes and those that had explored had returned merrily in dribs and drabs. Hannah went back into the ship and William went back to the Oracle. The lifeless, monumental statue stood and gazed out as William sat down before it, lost in thought.
“I still don’t know why you chose me,” he whispered as he closed his eyes and sighed.
After a long while, Avarian
slowly walked in. The sun had died down and darkness had approached as more and more shadow entered the building to engulf the statue. “Most everyone has returned to the ship William,” he offered.
“Tell me Avarian, how did you lose your eyes?” William asked quietly.
Avarian stepped closer and sat down beside his little friend upon to the cold stone floor, “It was in the misty forest. That’s when I found out about the creatures,” he looked up to the statue, “Aurora saved me,” he smiled, “I am uncertain as to why … but I am sure that if she did not, I would not be sitting beside you now.” Avarian stood slowly back up and joined by William, headed back to the ship.
The morning came and with a few Feliishons out to see them off, the Firefly - with all of its crew, including the two unix - once again lifted high into the air. Hannah and William were already on the deck as they waved vigorously to the Feliishons that waved back. Soon they could no longer be seen as the Firefly once again flew into cloud. Avarian left his cabin at that precise moment and walked over to them;
“What else did the Oracle tell you, Prince?” He asked curiously.
“Only, that we will meet a loyal servant called Jonas - he will help us with the blood of the Demonite,” Avarian remained silent, “and that I need an artefact called the Lomaxian Cross.”
“You know where it is?” Avarian quickly exclaimed in excitement.
“No,” William replied quietly.
“How will this Jonas know us?” Asked Hannah after a while.
William turned his right palm up to face her and his new brand glowed brightly; “He will know this,” he said quietly.
“The misty forest is in the Toptic region of Galgamia,” Avarian paused for a few moments, “now that you bare the mark of Aurora, Leptar’s forces will be coming. We do not want to stay too long on Devil’s Rock.