Elder Lich Saga: Awakening

by Michael Sisa

  “Jiablu… L-Let’s go,” said Kirsten, her voice trembling.

  After one last glance at the Razorwolf, Jiablu, together with Kirsten, went back to the Orphanage.

  Chapter 30: The Problem Child

  Gomery’s stomach grumbled as he silently sat inside the Room of Punishment. Everything was pitch black—so dark that he could not see his own arms and legs. A pungent stench, mainly from human stool, filled the air. There was no toilet. No bed. No windows. And to make things worse, he had not received any water and food for the past two days.

  “When will the old hag release me from this place?” he protested, voice weak and raspy. “They’re not trying to kill me, right?”

  Although this was the third time he had been sent to this place, the horrible thought of him dying still filled his mind. He would sometimes wonder if the Madam had forgotten that he was inside this room. He shivered at the thought.

  “Damn it,” he cursed. “What’s wrong with stealing those books from the store, anyway? It’s not like anyone’s going to buy those things. I’m the only one that could read it. Really… that damn old hag.”

  As he spoke, he heard the sound of heels striking the ground outside. His ears twitched as the sound of keys clanking against each other was heard, which was soon followed the sound of the bolt being unlocked. The thick metallic door opened inwards with a loud, rusty creaking sound.

  “So, have you repented yet?” was what the Madam said the moment she stepped inside. She crinkled her noise upon smelling the foul stench, the light outside giving her a looming shadow.

  Gomery slowly stood up. He breathed in the fresh air that managed to get inside the horrid place. Though he wanted to retort, he controlled himself for now. He always believed that what he did was not wrong. After all, it was true that there was no one who would buy those books. Contrary to what had been said, he had actually given the store owner a favor. Surely, books would be better off in the hands of someone who would actually read them.

  “Yes, Madam,” he lied. “I’m sorry for causing you all these troubles lately.”

  His words slowly came out, partly due to the fact that his throat was parched, and partly because of his desire to appear apologetic and innocent. But deep inside, he kept spouting curses at the old woman with a long nose in front of him.

  Madam Agwen sighed. “Then, get out. Dinner’s ended. I’m no demon, so I’ve placed some food inside your room. Eat. Drink. Regain your strength. More importantly, do not steal from other people again.” The last part was emphasized the most.

  Gomery inwardly squeaked in glee. Finally, he could get out of here.

  “Thank you, Madam,” he said, as he pretended to wipe away the tears at the corner of his eyes.

  “I’ve spoken with store owner yesterday,” said Madam. Her pair of jewels stared straight into Gomery’s. “It seems that the book you’ve stolen is still missing.”

  “I don’t have it! I swear!” said Gomery.

  There was a momentary silence. Madam Agwen wryly smiled. “I’ve had my doubts. I’ve searched your room and found not one trace of the book. Unfortunately.”

  “Of course,” he said, relieved. For a moment, his heart skipped a bit.

  The keys the Madam held in her hand clanked as she stepped outside. “I’ll give you permission to use the bath for this evening. You stink. Clean yourself.”

  ***

  After being released from the Room of Punishment, Gomery immediately headed back to his room. He was emaciated, hungry, his throat parched. Half-humming, he opened the door to his room.

  He stopped and stared at what he saw.

  Everything was clean, neat and orderly. The broken window had been fixed, the cracks on the walls had disappeared, and the mattresses looked brand new. More importantly, at the lower bed of the double deck, an unfamiliar figure soundly slept. He wore a crooked, satisfied grin as his chest slowly rose then fell.

  “Who’s he? Why is he sleeping in my room?” he asked himself. The Madam had not told him that the empty bed had finally found an owner.

  Gomery also noticed that the temperature inside this place was somehow different to the hallway outside. It was neither cold nor warm, and a pleasant smell emanated from the place.

  The stark contrast from the Room of Punishment made his body feel sleepy, and he wanted nothing more than to slump his body on the bed and sleep.

  “But first… I’ve got to eat,” he mumbled.

  After glancing left and right, he saw a plate and a glass neatly placed on top of the table. Gomery repeatedly opened then closed his mouth when he realized that they were both empty. There were traces of sauce and scraps of bread, but the glass was clean without a single drop.

  Slowly, Gomery turned livid. Someone ate the food. His food.

  Without hesitation, he grabbed the collar of the unfamiliar figure sleeping on the bed. He repeatedly shook the young man’s body, but there was no reaction.

  Furious, he slapped the newcomer’s cheeks. “Wake up!” he snarled. “You dare eat my food? My food!?”

  After a few more moments of furious shaking and occasional slapping, Gomery gave up. No matter what he did, the other kid would not wake up.

  He shook in rage as the thought of having to wait until morning for breakfast filled his mind.

  “Damn it!” he growled.

  After his breathing calmed down, he remembered the book he had stolen. His hazel eyes stared at the windows. With great effort, he yanked it open. He poked out half his body, opened the skin pouch hanging outside, then grabbed his precious book.

  He knew that his window was impossible to see from the garden, mainly due to a large tree that obstructed the view. A blind spot. The perfect place to hide his things.

  It had been a risky move placing the container outside his window, but at the end, it paid off.

  He felt relieved that the Madam did not search that part. Otherwise, all of his efforts to get this book would have been in vain.

  Gomery cast a quick glare at the unfamiliar sleeping face inside the room, before licking his lips then kissing his precious book.

  “I’m really a genius!” he snorted. “But man, I was so surprised to see this one in that shop. I guess this is the so called fate people are always talking about?”

  He rubbed off the dust that had clung onto the book’s cover, revealing a title written in a lost language. Before his parents’ death, Gomery was taught about the language of the ancients. He was not adept at it, but he could read a little bit.

  And his goal was to unravel the secrets of the Lost History. The age when the gods still freely roamed the land. The age of violent strife between the Nine Gods.

  He wanted to know it all. He wanted to know what really transpired during that time.

  Why did the Gods suddenly stop intervening with the mortals? What caused the strife between those Absolute Beings, leading to the destruction of Kingdoms, Empires, and Continents? If the Heavenly World existed, then who governed it?

  So many questions left unanswered.

  His parents had told him that there were no human records of that age, that they’ve searched the greatest of libraries but were still unable to find their answer.

  But what about the other races? Those beings with lifespan far surpassing the humans.

  He had always believed that the other races were able to record the events of that time, somehow or another.

  And he eventually got hold of this one.

  He willed back the tears that started to form at the corner of his eyes.

  “Records of Elymia,” he read out the title, despite the great difficulty of deciphering it.

  At the bottom most portion of the book, he saw the name of the author.

  “Fairentel.”

  Afterword

  I would like to extend my gratitude to those of you who had bought this book. If you liked it, please take the time to make a review. It will be greatly appreciated. The journey of Jiablu will be a long one, but
I assure you that it will be interesting. Great reviews will really motivate me and may hasten my writing.

  Once again, thank you very much.