David Bishop and the Mystic of Creation

by T. C. Crawford

  When Robert saw who it was addressing him, and that David and the others where there as well, a large grin quickly spread across his face and he walked up to each of them, eagerly shaking each of their hands and thanking them for everything they had done.

  He was a middle-aged man with a round face and a big belly from his love of heavy ales. His hair was short and curly, and twice as dark as his skin, peppered with patches of grey here and there. He had a great big smile, and an even bigger personality, as he had owned and operated a vendor in the slums nearly all of his adult life selling anything from fruits and vegetables to pick-pocketed jewelry.

  “It is an honor to have you here to see me off on my first fishing expedition!” said Robert in his deep booming voice customary of a market salesman.

  “Actually, that is not why we are here,” said Natan, “I have a favor to ask of you, Robert.” he said to the man.

  “Anything, anything for you!” replied Robert eagerly.

  “Good to hear it, old friend! I need you to take David, Erin, and Tyrius, along with their horses and whatever supplies they need, along the Eastern Shore beyond the Forest of Immortals. They are headed to the Birthplace of the World.” said Natan.

  “The Birthplace of the World? Where is this?” asked Robert, a confused look on his face. “I do not know this place on the maps.”

  “No worry friend,” said Tyrius, “I can show you the way. It is north of the Land of the Immortals, just beyond the northern forest beyond a cluster of mountain ranges covered in snow.” he said.

  With this, Robert smiled again and agreed to take them wherever they like, thanking them again for their help in the rebellion and telling them how much of an honor it is to have them sail with him.

  They fetched the two horses that they had borrowed from the elves, a mule to carry their supplies once they set foot back on land, and the rest of the supplies they would need for their journey north along the coast and to the Birthplace of the World.

  Within just a few short hours, they had gathered all that they needed and were standing at the bow of the ship as they sailed south. The mists of the great winding river crashed on the bow, sending salty spray high into the air as they cut through the waters at a fast and steady pace.

  Less than an hour later they reached the mouth of the river and entered the vast blue expanse of the South Sea, before turning up the coast to head north as Tyrius had instructed. Water stretched as far as the eye could see, with white caps slowly gliding across the surface of the waves as the wind rustled over the top of the water.

  David and Erin both looked in wonder at the sight before them – neither of them had seen the ocean before and it left them both in awe.

  The front of the ship rocked up and down as they crashed over the waves, sending a rush of exhilaration through the two of them, making them feel like kids once again. David wrapped Erin up into his arms, holding her tight as they closed their eyes, letting the gentle sea breeze rush through their hair while holding on to the side of the deck to make sure they didn’t fall from the constant rocking.

  The sound of the rushing wind and the crying gulls reverberated through the salty air as they charted their course along the rocky coastline.

  With the sun to their right, rising ever higher into the sky as it made its journey across the vast expanse of cloud-dotted blue, David and Erin basked in the moment, happy to be together once again.

  ***

  After what felt an eternity of traveling through darkness and wet, damp tunnels, Rex and the others finally saw the light at the end of the Southern Tunnel, indicating that their journey through the dark mountain was finally coming to an end.

  When they crossed the threshold into the open air, the sun was high in the sky. By the time they gathered up the rest of their caravan and supplies and made it down the mountain path to Ashmire the sun had nearly set in the west.

  When they reached the outskirts of the mountain village, some of the men were greeted by loved ones who had seen them coming from the entrance of the tunnel and had been eagerly awaiting their arrival.

  Others, who had been waiting beside them and were expecting to see their husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons come down the path, were left in sobbing wrecks, having discovered that they would not be coming, as they had fallen in the battle.

  When they had all set up camp around the city, as the Inn and other homes were already too full from the refugees much to the dismay of the old innkeeper and some of the villagers who still held grudges against the Northerners, they sat around late into the night telling tales of the heroic men who had given their lives defending the valley of Ravenfell and catching up with the rest of the citizens who had fled south over a week prior.

  Songs were sung of their fallen brethren’s courage and valor while minstrels played upbeat tunes to match the battle scenes, and somber songs to set the mood of the story when the heroes would fall.

  It was a night of mixed emotions – joy for those who made it out alive and were reunited with their loved ones, and sorrow for those who were left with emptiness in their hearts and lives, having lost friends and family in the great battle against the demon horde.

  When the festivities were over, they each got some rest, knowing the next day would bring more tiresome travel as they made their way down the mountain road to Brineport in search of David and the others.

  The next morning, they woke early and packed up their belongings before heading south down the foothills of the mountain on their long march toward the city of Brineport.

  When they finally reached the city, it was already late into the afternoon the following day. They were greeted by the newly freed citizens of Brineport, all happy to see the new arrivals and eager to sell them their wares. When the citizens discovered they were from the Northern Kingdom and were friends of David, Tyrius, and Erin, they were heralded as heroes and given a great welcoming and provided a whole section of the city where they could take up residence for as long as they pleased.

  Rex and the others, including King Eldergate, General Ryan, and General Owen, as well as King Tybrin Hammerclaw and Gilric Ellisar, were all caught up on the recent events that night during the feast by none other than Natan himself. He told them how David and the others helped inspire a rebellion, freeing the city from decades of harsh rule by Bloodvayne, the Southern Wolf Guard, Jakob Zander, and his Guild of misfits.

  When Rex and the others learned of David, Erin, and Tyrius’ departure the morning prior to their arrival, they were faced with the hard choice of going after them to assist in whatever way they could or staying behind to regroup their forces and plan for whatever the Defiant One might send their way.

  After much debate, Rex and King Eldergate determined it was best for them to let David and the others go off on their own, and instead, focus on rebuilding their homes in Brineport in order to prepare for the coming battle that would inevitably come their way.

  Prince Gilric Ellisar of the Woodland Elves and King Tybrin of the Dwarves both decided to part ways with the humans for the time being in order to head back home and prepare their own kingdoms for war. They each promised to gather once again in the coming days for their final march against the demon army and their Mystical ruler once David and the others had returned from the caverns.

  The Elves and Dwarves, saying their goodbyes, headed north the following morning to their respective kingdoms. Rex and the others watched them slowly disappear beyond the rolling foothills of the mountains before returning to the care of their people.

  The time would come where they would fight together again, they knew, and much sooner than any of them would have liked. They only hoped that when that day came, David would be by their side with his renewed power, prepared to take on the Defiant One and send him back to the depths from whence he came.

  Chapter XXIX

  It only took them three days to reach the northern shores beyond the Land of the Immortals. Taking the route by sea rather than land proved to be
a real timesaver, cutting their journey of what would have been over a week into less than half of that time.

  They pulled up as close as they could to the land without running the ship ashore, and Robert lowered them down in a small boat for David and the others to depart in. He lowered a second, larger boat for their horses and a couple of mules to carry their supplies along the rest of their journey into the mountains and beyond.

  The sun was nearly halfway along its journey across the sky when they reached the shore. They waved goodbye as the sailors rowed their boats back to the main vessel, and then David, Tyrius, and Erin started off toward the mountains on foot, leading the horses and mules by rope. As they passed the outskirts of the forest to the south, the horses, catching scent of their homeland, broke free from their ropes and darted off towards the woods before disappearing from view into the thick trees beyond.

  Erin and Tyrius were sad to see them go but knew that they had fulfilled their purpose and were thankful to have had their support during the long journey to Brineport a week earlier.

  They spent the rest of the day hiking across the cold, rocky land leading up to the foothills of the distant, snowcapped mountains.

  The winter months were fast approaching, and the wind was whipping past them across the mostly barren plains as they walked, making for a very miserable journey. The frost on the ground this far north was nearly permanent this time of year, causing what little grass there was beneath their feet to crunch with each grueling step.

  Pointing to the mountain range in the distance, Tyrius indicated that was their destination, beyond which lay the Birthplace of the World. Tyrius knew that there was a cavern there that was filled with crystals, but he wasn’t certain it was the same Cavern from the book. Although he was convinced that it must be, guessing there weren’t too many caverns filled with crystal that the Mystics of old would have chosen to lay their brother to rest in, a part of him inside was still uncertain and hoped more than anything they were in fact the same caverns that David had read about in the library back in Ravenfell.

  To David, that time spent in Ravenfell, in the safety and warmth of its halls among all of his friends, felt like a lifetime ago. He was eager now more than ever to finish his journey in the north where he hoped to restore his powers. Powers he needed in order to face off against the Defiant One and have a chance at stopping him. He was terrified of the prospect of fighting him, especially knowing he was a divine being made by the Creator God for the sole purpose of death and destruction, but he also knew what needed to be done to keep his friends and this new world safe – a world he had become quite fond of and was ready to experience without the constant threat of danger looming on the horizon.

  He hoped, once his mission was complete, for a life with Erin by his side. Nothing made him happier than the thought of a future with her, one free from constant dangers and war, where they could spend their time together as they saw fit. Maybe even get married and have a family of their own. But right now, in that moment, even that prospect seemed far off – almost too far to imagine clearly. For now, David knew his focus must remain on his mission if he were to ever see it through to the other side.

  After walking as far as they could bear, they chose to set up camp for the night before the sun had reached the point beyond the mountains when it would cast the land in a blanket of darkness. Once they finished setting up their tents provided to them by Natan, they ate a filling meal before calling it a night. In the south, the tents were used for protection against the sandstorms when traveling. Up here, it would serve to protect the travelers from the constant and bitter wind while they rested.

  Despite the cold and the constant howl of the wind, the companions rested easily, knowing that they were in a land safe from any real dangers, as it was protected by the Elves to their south.

  When the morning came, they broke camp and started again on their way.

  This routine of hiking through the day and camping for the night continued for several days as they made their way across the desolate landscape, through the rolling foothills, and up the rising mountain range of the north.

  Finally, they reached a valley between two great mountains with peaks higher than the mountains surrounding Ravenfell. They could see a long, almost imperceptible path that snaked through the valley and up the side and around one of the great mountains. Tyrius indicated that this was the old path that would lead them across the mountain to the other side where it would eventually wind down into the opposite valley and to the stone structure at its center.

  They hiked the remainder of the day until they reached a stopping point just at the base of the mountain before the steep climb up and over its ragged side. They set up camp near a small stream fed by melting snow from the peaks of the mountain. It wouldn’t be much longer before these mountains were completely covered in snow, as the light, dancing snowflakes that now fell from the skies only to melt shortly after reaching the ground, would eventually be replaced by a torrent of heavy blizzards that would be settling in for the winter.

  Tyrius said they were fortunate to be traveling this way when they were, or the pass would almost certainly be impossible to traverse in the coming months.

  After getting the fire going and having a warm meal, they each got some sleep, too exhausted to stay up for any meaningful conversation. The following day would contain a rough journey up the side of the mountain and back down to the opposite valley, and each of them were ready to get it over with, knowing it would likely be the hardest part of their journey.

  That night David had some strange dreams.

  He was walking through a fog so thick he could barely see his hand in front of his face. The ground was smooth and free from obstruction, but he could feel the hard rock beneath his feet, so he knew he was somewhere rocky, or maybe underground in a tunnel.

  As he walked, searching for something just out of sight, he heard a voice. It called to him, beckoning him onward into the fog, so he complied, curious to see who it was that was speaking to him.

  After some time, David could see a light in the distance penetrating through the thick misty air. It was pulsing slowly like the orb had done long ago when he found it in the temple in the Outer Woods.

  When he neared, he could see the shadows of a great circular structure surrounded by pillars of stone that rose high above his head. The light was coming from within the structure, somewhere in the middle.

  David walked onward, ever toward the increasing bright light, entranced as it pulsed faster and faster with each step he took.

  The voice rang out in his head, Welcome back, David.

  “Who are you?” said David startled, “Where am I?” he asked the mysterious voice.

  You are home, where you belong. Can’t you feel it? came the voice.

  David did notice a strong sense of belonging deep within, but he couldn’t explain it. It was as if he were on the horizon of a profound discovery, one that he had been waiting to find his entire life.

  He noticed his heartbeat was increasing and his breath was becoming more labored.

  “What do you mean home?” asked David, suddenly wondering if he already knew the answer.

  Search within your heart David, and you will find the answer you seek. said the voice.

  Then suddenly, the fog cleared, and David could see the temple, clear as day. The orb was resting on a pedestal like the one it had rested on in the temple before. Its light exploded in a brilliant display of power, blinding his eyes in pure white light so bright it hurt.

  A series of visions began flashing before his eyes, too quickly to discern what they were trying to show him. All he knew was that his chest began to hurt, like his heart was being ripped out and he could hear the sound of Erin’s voice screaming to him, calling his name, begging him to come back.

  As he focused on Erin’s voice, her face suddenly appeared in his mind’s eye. She was crying and holding her arms out to him, running towards him as he drifted away. For some reas
on, he knew he had to leave. He didn’t want to, but he had to, and it was breaking his heart. Erin fell to her knees, defeated, sobbing heavily into her hands as she faded away in the distance.

  Then something grabbed his shoulder and began shaking him fiercely.

  “David! David, wake up!” came a distant voice.

  David opened his eyes and Erin and Tyrius were kneeling above him. She had her hands on his shoulders, shaking him gently.

  “David! Wake up!” she said, a hint of alarm in her voice.

  When she saw he had opened his eyes she sighed in relief and plunged herself into his arms.

  “Don’t do that to me again!” she said, sitting up and looking down at him.

  “Do what?” asked David, confused.

  “You were screaming, like you were being attacked or something. It looked like you were in pain.” said Tyrius, a look of concern etched on his face as well.

  David decided to keep his dream to himself, feeling it was better left unsaid. He didn’t want to worry Erin any more than he already had, and for some reason, he felt like now was not the time to reveal to her what he had seen. There would be a time for that later.

  Instead, he decided to quickly get up and start breaking camp. The other two eventually abandoned their attempts to get more information out of David and followed suit, keeping a cautious eye on him as they worked.

  The rest of the day was spent hiking up the mountain and David kept mostly to himself. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, that he was heading towards something he wasn’t going to like. He knew he had to do it, that much was certain, but he also had this deep feeling in the pit of his stomach that what he was going to find at the end of the road was something that he wasn’t really prepared for.

  They crested the side of the mountain where the path crossed over from one side of the valley to the next sometime around midday. The chilling wind was whipping past them violently at this height, sending shivers down David’s spine and Erin’s hair flapping wildly like a dark banner. The sky was mostly overcast, as it had been for days now, and the sun was giving off little to no warmth, leaving them in a bitter cold that seemed to sink to the bones.