Atlantis: City of Mages

by M. Arcturus

  Giséi was a constant reminder to Seth that Atlantis was not innocent. It was now evident as the people were moved from their homes in the west, the dragons were against them, the turmoil with the Ackrids had left its mark, and The Destroyer was in their midst. In response to the rumors of The Destroyer’s decent on Atlantis, the people stayed their distance and whispered loudly as she passed, but that didn’t seem to affect her much. Just on the outskirts of town, she was laughing and playing with Kajaka as he showed her around. Seth had not been told that they were family yet, but the way they interacted was like watching an uncle tend to his niece. On the outside, she was just an ordinary girl, but somewhere on the inside was a destructive energy that could only be ignored at one’s peril.

  Seth’s attention drifted just beyond Giséi to Sorbek. From what Seth heard, Sorbek was intended to be Pandora’s consort, but the wolf-man was sure checking out Giséi in her short skirt. It made Seth sick to his stomach. He wasn’t sure how this was to play out. He didn’t want Pandora to be with Sorbek—not necessarily due to selfish reasons, but he was more afraid that she would be hurt emotionally than he was of losing her. Sorbek didn’t seem like the type to cheat, but he didn’t seem real loyal or interested in her either. Pandora deserved better. Even Oberon noticed the lack of interest emanating from his faithful warrior who tried to wag his tail inconspicuously around Giséi, but was failing miserably at it. To make matters worse, it really got under Oberon’s skin when he saw how Pandora interacted with him while he was bed bound in the medical center. Now that his wounds seemed to be mostly healed, he could now focus on training his own body for war and wait out the failure of his wolf-like adversary in the pursuit for Pandora.

  His training always began with seeking his inner balance. Standing as a symbol of remarkable strength, he stood strong like a pillar on one hand while his other arm was stretched out to his side parallel with the earth. Seth was well balanced with a straight back and a lit candle on his bare feet. Pandora had walked away from the disappointing breakfast and was quietly making her way to the top of the hill where he had initiated his training. She stood there watching him from behind, silently amazed at his control as the hot wax dripped onto his feet and then continued down his legs. Trying to understand how he was able to place a lit candle on his feet while standing on one hand dumbfounded her as she tried to perform her own effort to replicate his achievement.

  “What in the hell are you doing?” Pandora stopped in shock. She wasn’t expecting him to speak.

  “I’m not sure who you are, but you’re a lousy thief or killer.”

  Pandora chuckled as she walked around to the front side of him, so he could see her. She leaned over to one side, so her head would be in the same direction as his. She must have been distracted when he smiled at her, for it was way too easy for him to drop the candle, bend at the waist and with minimal concentration wrap his legs around her waist and throw her over him. As she landed, he was on top of her. She wasn’t too happy about that for the pain it caused and the compromised position it put her in, but he was quick to stand and help her up.

  “Even though that ticked me off and was painful to experience, that was really awesome! However, next time you’re not going to be able to do that to me again.”

  “There doesn’t need to be a next time. It only takes once. I worry about you taking on this war. The Ackrids were not easily extinguished, and you put up a good fight with them, but I can tell by the way you fight that it’s not very natural for you.”

  Pandora smiled as she reflected back on her life, “When I was a little girl, my father taught me a little bit of swordplay, but my mother didn’t approve. She knew I was more interested in peace, but there’s a part of me that feels neglected. These last couple of days has shown me that I enjoy using my creativity in hand-to-hand combat. That’s why I’m here. I want to know if you will train me.”

  He stood in contemplation, “Usually, I would have been happy to take on an apprentice, but I agree with your mother. You’re not a fighter.”

  “Whether you like it or not, I will be fighting for my life like everyone else. I hate the idea of fighting and killing dragons, but if it’s my life or theirs, I will fight. I don’t think I will have a choice. They’re not going to take the time to discern who will live or die. From what it sounds like, we will all be targets.”

  He hated to admit that she was right, then it hit him, “You could sail away to Avalon. After the war, we could meet up there. You would be safe, and I will come find you.”

  She blushed at his comment, but the thought of running didn’t feel right to her. To leave her friends behind to fight a battle and feel like a coward was not something she could live with. “I can’t run,” she said. “The best I can do to meet you half way is spend my energy looking for the cargo. If we can find the cargo and give back to the dragons what belongs to them, then the war wouldn’t need to be fought. Even as the war rages, I will keep searching. There is no guarantee that I won’t need to fight, so I will still need to train. I will not bail on my friends and loved ones, especially for a battle as dangerous as this. You will need me.”

  “I will train you, but I still hope you consider leaving before the fighting begins.”

  Oberon and Sorbek had reached the top of the hill where Pandora and Seth stood, which caused Seth to end his speech. “Hello daughter, Seth, why are you two away from the others? We could use your help.” Seth looked behind Oberon and saw that the evacuation was nearly complete. He didn’t need them; he just didn’t like them being alone. Oberon didn’t appreciate the fact that Seth looked past him and found out the truth about the evacuation. Before Oberon could speak, Pandora gave her opinion.

  “Father, I have decided that I’m going to spend my energy looking for the cargo. When I’m not looking, I will be training with Seth.”

  “Not another word! You will not train with him. You are to train with Sorbek!”

  Pandora looked at Sorbek, “You are off the hook.” Sorbek looked at her a little strange. “I can tell that you are uneasy around me. You are a soldier, not a lover. You feel more comfortable giving your emotions to a warrior-based young girl than a woman like me, and I understand that. She’s not quite as threatening as I am because she does not require a romantic, family-based lifestyle. My father is your Lord, and I speak my mind quite forcefully. You know as well as I do that your temper is beyond your control, and I know my words will spark anger from time to time, and you won’t be able to stop. Then my father will have to crush you. This match is not meant to be.”

  Oberon shook with anger, “No! You are my daughter! I will decide what is right for you. You will do what I say!”

  “Just stop it!” Oberon turned to see his wife standing behind him. “She is your daughter, not your property! I know you want to see her safe, but forcing her to do something she doesn’t want to do is not going to make either one of you happy. Pandora, I understand. Sorbek is not right for you.” She turned to Sorbek, “You are a wonderful, loyal soldier. You are trained in understanding politics and the social curtsies of the wealthy life. As a future ruler of Avalon, you would make a great king! However, our daughter needs one with a softer, more sensual touch—an individual in tune to his spiritual needs, but I question your decision, daughter.” Pandora looked from Sorbek to her mother. “Seth also has problems with his anger. I’m not satisfied by his social mannerisms.” She gave her daughter time to answer. Oberon didn’t know how to react or feel toward the situation, so he watched it play out with his temper still flaring.

  “If Seth wants to be with me, I can teach him social behavior,” said Pandora as she looked at him to see his reaction before continuing. She was worried that speaking about him while he stood right there would offend him. To her surprise, he appeared to be taking it rather well. After the first initial shock of her speaking about them as a couple, he nodded slowly in approval, but he looked a little bit ne
rvous about where it was all going. Pandora turned toward Seth, “Honestly, I do question your anger problem as well.” He was a little shocked to hear that and thought about saying something in protest, but the truth was exactly what she had said. There was no disputing it. “I overlooked your anger for a long time, trying not to see it until you lost your temper with Selené.”

  Oberon nodded and smiled, liking the way his daughter thought. “But my emotions stand where they are.” She directed her next comments to her mother, “I love him. I don’t believe he will hurt me. Unlike Sorbek, Seth loves me too much. He can’t hurt me; he would do anything for me.” Oberon grimaced, but the Lady nodded in acknowledgment. “Mother, I would like the chance to see if a relationship will form between us and where the relationship will go. If his anger starts to scare me, I will not stay with him.” She turned toward Seth, “Seth, that’s the best I can do at this moment. We will just have to play it out by ear.”

  “Very well, daughter, we will allow Seth time to prove himself a gentleman.” Oberon glared at his wife as she spoke, “But keep in mind, you hurt our daughter and Oberon will be the least of your worries.”

  Oberon agreed to the situation. He didn’t like it, but it sounded fair. Her father added, “If things go according to plan, I have summoned a boat from Avalon to come and pick you up. I know you want to stay and fight, but you are the future Queen of Avalon. You have your people to think about as well. Your safety means a lot more than your guilty feelings toward cowardice. However, I cannot spare any of my men to take you back at this time, so we can only hope that the boat gets here before the war breaks out. In the meantime, I agree, I think it is wise for you to train just in case you are stuck here to fight. Whether or not you train with Seth is your choice, but you will also learn from Sorbek.”

  “Pandora,” her mother’s voice was a nice reprieve from listening to her father, “I would like to see Selené. The next time you happen to see her, send her my way.” Pandora nodded as the three of them walked away leaving Pandora and Seth to their own vices.

  “I didn’t know you felt like that, about me or my anger. You really want to be with me?” His question seemed too mushy, but she nodded hoping that the mushiness wouldn’t last long.

  “I’m sorry that I seemed to have left you out of the conversation when I was telling my parents about how I felt toward you. I’m still shocked that you didn’t speak up.”

  “I just figured that I should stay out of it because your father was getting ticked. There was no way I was touching that!” He paused for a moment in thought, “How did you know that Sorbek was interested in Giséi?”

  “I had a feeling, but to be honest, I didn’t. Still, if I were in his shoes and were stepping out into the world of emotion, I would pick someone with a similar background. She knows just as much about war and relationships as he does.”

  Seth agreed, then replied, “I’m not real sure how much of a little girl she actually is. She looks young, but seeing a lot of death and destruction makes one grow up quickly. However, when it comes to Sorbek, she’s definitely got a girly streak. It’s almost like she doesn’t know what to do with herself when feeling for someone.”

  “I think he feels for her. She can’t be like the other girls due to her curse. Come to think of it; she’s more like me than what I thought.” Once again, Pandora messed with the chain at her waist.

  “What exactly is that?”

  “Another one of my father’s ideas: ‘let’s improve our daughter’s personality by giving her responsibility.’” Pandora pulled out the box from the pouch at her side. “If only he knew that I was tired of his impatience. I just needed more time to learn and learn on my own, sometimes still do. He always has to speed things up.”

  “It’s beautiful!” said Seth as he eyed the rustic jewel-encrusted box. It was six inches long, two inches tall, and four inches wide. “That must be really painful to wear.”

  “Sometimes, yes,” said Pandora with a sigh.

  “What’s in it?”

  “I’m not exactly sure. I was only told to hold onto it, keep it safe and never to open it. A warning was also issued with this gift. The box is supposed to contain the world’s greatest fear, for some reason, that warning keeps my curiosity at bay. I would hate to be the one to unleash terror upon the world just because I wanted to know what was inside.”

  “With that type of burden, I guess we can skip the first two lessons which encompass self-control and mental strength. Let’s move on to physical balance.” Seth escorted Pandora to the nearest tree. “I want you to stand on your hands next to this tree.”

  “Are you going to put a lit candle on my feet?”

  “No, we don’t have time for that kind of training.”

  “Please hold onto this.” She unclasped the chain and handed him the box.

  “Are you sure you want to do that?”

  “I can’t do what you’re asking me to do with that on my hip. I’d much rather it be with you than fall out of its pouch and be jarred open.” Though he didn’t feel right about it, he took the box from her and set it down on the ground where he was going to sit. Pandora got into place up against the trunk of the tree. He placed an amethyst crystal on her feet with its apex pointed upward.

  “Just concentrate on being the tree. As you feel ready, move away from the tree and rely on your own hands and arms for strength.”

  Many hours passed since Seth had given her any instruction. Though most of her weight was resting up against the tree, her arms were getting weak. She started to move away from the tree on her hands one wobbly inch at a time.

  He sat not too far away from her staring at a sphere-cut quartz crystal which he had pulled out of his pocket. Without even looking up, he stated in a singsong voice, “You’re not ready!”

  A smile crept up on his face as she fell back against the tree and landed uncomfortably on the back of her neck as the rest of her body tumbled over to one side toward the ground. She sat up rubbing her neck.

  “Do I have to do this your way?” She asked with a soft whine in her voice.

  “Why are you asking me? I thought you were doing it your way.”

  “Wouldn’t doing it my way be cheating?”

  “I don’t know. Does it matter?”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “This whole training session is about learning yourself. If you feel that doing it your way is cheating, there are two things to think about. First off, is it really cheating? As long as you’re learning something from it, it’s not really considered cheating. Secondly, one lesson may be harder for someone else than what it is for you. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.”

  “In that case—” Pandora summoned vines from the earth to help her stabilize and stand on her hands.

  “Very good, took a while huh?”

  Pandora crinkled her face and stuck out her tongue mocking him. The vines went back into the earth, and she performed a half cartwheel to stand on her feet again. “Where to next?” she asked grabbing her box and following him down the side of the hill.

  “There is an armory deep within the palace. I’ll need you to pick out the weapon of your choice, so we can start your weapons training.”

  “Ooh, sounds like fun!” Although she couldn’t see his expression for his back was turned toward her, he rolled his eyes and just kept walking.

  As they neared the western outskirts of the city, a small team of elven guards was releasing the last two latches that tied the land bridge to the mainland. Giséi watched as a small geyser from the ocean shot up to greet the soldiers on the far side of the bridge near the mainland. She couldn’t quite tell, but it looked like the water solidified into a console. They pressed a few buttons and with a jolt, the first of the two latches were released. As they started to walk back over the bridge toward Atlantis, she stared in awe at the intricate yet simple bridge.<
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  Kajaka had told her that from the mainland, the bridge appeared to be nothing more than a primitive rope bridge leading into a large cloud of fog, but it looked so much different from Atlantis toward the mainland. It was a massive, elegant crystalline arch bridge pulsating with bright multi-colored lights that ran along the crystal fissures. The deck and supporting arch looked like it was made out of glass. With each step the soldiers took, it rippled like water, yet the surface remained solid.

  The side rails were sculpted into leafy vines that playfully looped around and were made out of unnaturally strong glass tubing filled with a silver substance that gave the appearance of highly polished silver. In the center of the bridge was a gazebo-like structure created from the pulsating crystals. From the gazebo, the crystals thinned out along the side rails toward Atlantis and the mainland. Giséi stared in wonder when she noticed that there were no support beams from the deck to the arch. The arch touched the deck under the gazebo, but that’s all the contact they made.

  The guards had made it across and had entered the code on the other console to release the last latch. With an earthshaking thud, the isle was released, parts of the retainer wall on the coast of the mainland fell into the water as a few of the Atlanteans watched from the shore as their home sailed away. Their faces were long and sad. It was a tough decision, but they didn’t have the heart for war, and no one could blame them.

  Giséi stared hard at the Atlanteans on the shore. Most of them were the inventors, scientist, and spiritual leaders that had lived for centuries on Atlantis. She noticed that they took most of their notes and research with them and wondered what impact their knowledge would have on the indigenous people of the mainland. Kajaka had told her that the people of the mainland were called the Mayans, and she was curious about how they would handle their new land-bound neighbors. Hopefully, they would embrace the Atlanteans and their knowledge.

  The bridge lowered as one large piece. Two hanger doors opened up on the cliff side of Atlantis, which had been facing the mainland. She couldn’t quite get a good look, but it appeared that the bridge separated. The deck retreated into the top hanger door, and the arch flattened and slid into the lower hanger door.