by R N Skye
The Artifacts of Elios
The Glyph Mage Book I
R. N. Skye
The Glyph Mage Book I
The Artifacts of Elios
R. N. Skye
© 2013 Richard E. Benedict. All rights reserved.
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher or the Author
This is a work of fiction. All characters, scenes, dialogue, and descriptions are purely the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, real events, or actual places is entirely coincidental.
THIS BOOK:
The Glyph Mage Books
The Artifacts of Elios
FORTHCOMING:
The Glyph Mage Books
The Laws of Elios
The Enemy of Elios
To all those in my life that have inspired, encouraged, and lifted me up on the down days.
Introduction
On the world of Eliom there once lived the Elios and the Luion. Over two millennia ago the Elios vanished while the Luion remained. Then something happened; the magical knowledge and the history of the Old Luion and of the vanished Elios had faded away. All that was left was a monarchy and a republic whose only link to their past were the magical artifacts found in the ruins left behind.
In a now Modern Eliom with an economy powered by recovered artifacts, lives Shane Chason, a student of magetech with a single goal - Solve the mystery of how to make artifacts of his own. What he discovers is powerful magic, ancient enemies and a King that wants it for his self or to destroy it all – Only a Glyph Mage can stop the madness.
Preface
I always have enjoyed Science Fiction and Fantasy and I’ve been reading it since I checked out my first Star Trek novel from the book-mobile that would come once a week to the small town where I grew up.
I remember reading the “The Hobbit” just because I thought the word ‘Hobbit’ sounded ‘cool’. I would devour a book by H.G Wells as easily as a book by C.S. Lewis. I was hooked on the ‘Sci-fi’ as well as the ‘Fantasy’; although admittedly as a kid I preferred a phaser over a wand in most instances – but give me a teleporter over a transporter any day.
In my family growing up we read; so I read. I read everything. While I was in Junior High my Dad introduced me to his ‘Great Books’ collection which had some really great stories; “Treasure Island”,” Moby Dick”, and “The Count of Monte Cristo”, to name a couple. It was when I read Homers “Iliad” and “Odyssey” that I realized that even the writers from the olden days wrote sci-fi and fantasy. It was from those books that I began to judge good science fiction and fantasy tales.
It might interest you to know that even Shakespeare inspired me in what I looked for in good Sci-Fi and Fantasy; for what good is any story if not told well and to me Shakespeare told a great story; not just with the eloquent rhetoric but with great plays like “Henry V” with its scenes of the camaraderie of brothers in arms and how a king can act with valor, and “A Mid-Summer Nights Dream” with its own tale of love, comedy and fantasy.
One day recently, I was frustrated by the lack of good a book to read, my favorite authors were all diligently working on sequels and I was not in the mood to risk reading another dark depressing verbal porn infested pretense at literature to find something new. It was then that I had the bright idea that as a voracious consumer of science fiction with a boatload of books kept on my Kindle; having read everything from Asimov to Zahn, who better than me to write a science fiction or fantasy story.
I will be the first to tell you that it is harder than it looks. I will also be the first to tell you that it is more fun that I thought. So early this spring as I waited for several of my favorite authors to finish a few sequels I decide to give it a go; this book is the result.
As a warning, I did use a few crutches; I relied a bit on my high school French to establish the devolved language and culture of the Luion. I also relied a bit on my engineering and computer science background for the basis of some of the magic; after all didn’t Arthur C. Clarke say: “…Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic …”
If you are worried that this is a book that is, gross, gory, lewd, crude, or fifty shades of something that you wouldn’t want to leave on the coffee table in case your kids or your churchy neighbor might see it, then stop worrying. I have tried to keep it rated PG. There may be a swear word or two (mostly gosh and dang – words that you won’t go to heck for.) I hid most of them in the Luionese language because I guess I wanted to keep the profanity down but didn’t want to have to “Watch my French” - pun intended.
So here it is; the first of three tales of the glyph mage. I hope you like it; if you do please feel free to reach out to me on Facebook, Twitter, or leave me a little love note in the form of a review on Amazon.
– R.N. Skye - July 2013
Table of Contents
Preface
Prologue
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
XIII
XIV
XV
Index
About the Author
Prologue
There once was a world of incredible magic, a world of unimaginable achievement, a world populated by a wondrous people with a grasp of magic that to the remote observer seemed beyond technological. This world was called Eliom.
There were two peoples that occupied the cities and lands of Eliom; the Elios and the Luion.
The Elios were said to not be indigenous to Eliom but were from a world of unknown origin. Legend told that the Elios had created the world of Eliom for the Luion. The Elios had prepared Eliom with many seas and oceans with large continents with many locations exceptionally suitable for habitation. They had also provided a massive infrastructure of roads, waterways, and cities. More amazingly they provided wondrous machines for both work as well as play – that the Luion might live in happiness.
Of all the many marvels that the Elios had provided, the greatest of all and the most valuable was the Arc of Wisdom. The Arc of Wisdom was the symbol of all magic on Eliom constructed in the form of an immense pyramid of which were inscribed the Glyphs of the World and the Laws of Wisdom – Writings that were said to protect Eliom as well as told how to govern the land and each other.
The Luion it is said were from another world as well; a world that was soon to be consumed by a dying sun.
The world of the Luion was near its destruction when miraculously the Elios appeared and rescued them with a ‘Great Magic’ and moved them to the safety of a new world; Eliom.
The Elios taught the Luion the glyphs of magic and instructed them in the manufacture and use of many wondrous and magical machines. The Elios also instructed the Luion of the Laws of Wisdom and that in time they would become like unto the Elios if they continued to live according to the laws of wisdom.
One thousand years after the ‘Great Magic’ the Elios caused that the people of the world should be gathered together.
On the day of the gathering the Elios and the Luion joined together in a great celebration of thanksgiving in remembrance of the ‘Great Magic’ but the Elios had a revelation to share - The time had come for the Elios to depart.
The People of the Luion cried at the news; for the Luion loved and revered their brothers of the Elios.
The great leader of the Elios, Ahhan, held high his staff of many glyphs a
nd conferred the world of Eliom into the hands of the Luion - wishing them and their posterity both prosperity and all happiness. His last words were those of instruction, warning, and a promise: Live the Laws of Wisdom lest magic be lost from the face of the world; live their oaths to the Laws of Wisdom and one day the Elios would return.
After the day of the gathering it is said that the Elios vanished. The morning after the great day of remembrance and thanksgiving they were gone. Their dwellings empty. The only sign of their existence were the magical machines they left behind, the knowledge of glyph magic and the glistening Arc of Wisdom.
Sometime long after the vanishing of the Elios a star fell from the heavens and crashed in to the eastern ocean creating great gulf destroying the peninsula of Jehhet leaving only the remnants of a few islands that were soon lost to the knowledge of the inhabitants of Eliom. In the wake of the destruction the Laws of Wisdom were gradually forgotten and eventually rationalized away. The inhabitants of Eliom devolved from the rule provided by the Elios into various republics, monarchies and kingdoms. Those with the knowledge of the glyphs that had maintained the world and a true understanding of the Arc of Wisdom soon faded away.
Great was the fall of the Luion. Upon the final corruption of the Laws of Wisdom the Arc of Wisdom hid itself away and was nowhere to be found. Eliom itself began to crack, the weather changed, and new mountains emerged. As a result many of the great cities were buried, covered by sands, over grown by jungles, or buried in the depths of the sea.
I
A man and a woman stood alone together in a small garden; the woman’s eyes moist with unshed tears. In the woman’s arms was a sleeping toddler.
“I am the last,” said the man. “No other mages remain. I have been instructed to return to the Arc and begin to prepare for the one who will fill the world with magic once again and to continue on as guardian until the ‘Last Song’.”
“How long,” asked the women.
“It could be two years it could be twenty; I do not know, but I promise that we will be reunited”
“I will wait for you,” was all that the woman said, and then with a look of renewed determination she straightened and held the toddler closer to her for comfort.
Because of the man’s height he bent to one knee and he gently placed the side of his face against the child that the woman held; lightly embracing the woman and child together. Leaning back and with a catch in his voice he stood and softly spoke, at the same time drawing a set of glowing symbols in the air in front of him, uttering a spell; the glyphs of foresight, strength, stamina, speed, health, and intelligence, begin to circle one another faster and faster until they had coalesced in to a glowing orb. With a gesture the orb engulfed the woman and child and absorbed into them. The toddler smiled and then laughed in his sleep with a barely audible “da-da.”
The man stood and handed an intricately glyph covered jewelry box to the woman. The Elders provided these for you for the times during our separation. Within is a ring a bracelet and necklace. They are remnants of your heritage. They are not so called artifacts; they are true magic created of the lumen of Elios. It is a gift from your mother.
The man and woman embraced a final time; silently expressing their love. The man stepped back and in the blink of an eye he disappeared.
The summer morning was glorious. Birds soared and sang blending tranquility with the murmur of the many conversations that were slowly increasing as crowds began to fill the white columned amphitheater.
Dozens of students in robes of burgundy and gold huddled in groups off to the side while parents, siblings and other family members found their chairs.
“Guests please take your seats. Students please make your way to the queues. The commencement will begin shortly.” Sounded an amplified voice that echoed slightly; causing the birds to momentarily cease their tweeting.
The students clustered to the back of the amphitheater and into a corridor that branched to the rear of the stage while the murmurs of the crowd died down and seats quickly filled.
A hush then prevailed as a balding distinguished looking man approached the podium and cleared his throat.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” He greeted, “I am Headmaster Deveaux.” He paused a moment after introducing himself then continued, “Parents, families and distinguished guests. I would like to welcome you to the commencement ceremony of the graduating class of the year five hundred and fifty three of the Fiona DeJoy Academy of Higher Learning.” The crowd responded with enthusiastic applause. The man again cleared his throat and the audience once again quieted as he introduced several students and dignitaries that would address the crowd.
One by one the speakers conveyed their comments and accolades to the soon to be graduating class and the wonderful alumni and traditions of the academy. Finally the Headmaster once again stood and addressed the crowd. “Before we announce the names of our graduating students I am pleased to announce our concluding speaker who will offer a few short words on behalf of the student body of our academy. I am proud to introduce to you, our top honors student and captain of the warball team. A brilliant athlete and student who I expect to go on to do brilliant things, Mr. Shane Chason. - Mr. Chason?”
The crowd again clapped their hands as a tall dark haired young man stepped lively up to the podium.
“Thank you Headmaster. Ladies and gentleman, fellow students.… Mom,” he smiled with a boyish grin and a wink. “I promise to keep this short.” The crowd laughed and after a moment he continued.
“I would like to express my appreciation to all those that have sacrificed so much to not only be here today but to have also been there for the support of our education. On behalf of the entire student body I would like to say thank you. “The crowd applauded appreciatively and then died down as the young man continued.
“As we look around us in our ever changing world and see the progress of our time; constantly in motion - As new discoveries are made almost daily with many new mysterious artifacts of the ancients that enhance and magnify the magetech that we enjoy in these modern times. Our world is moving forward at a rate never before imagined. I and the class of five fifty three are ready, wanting, willing, and excited!” He added both loudly and energetically. “To explore, learn, and enhance the world. – We recognize that this is our time, our chance, our destiny to make the difference, to make the world a little better. To be an example to those who will follow like those before us were to us.” The young man paused while the crowd applauded loudly.
After the crowd calmed slightly he continued. “As many of us continue on to the collegiums and universities of higher learning, we the student body, promise that we will exemplify the principles that you, our leaders, our professors, our instructors, and especially our parents, have instilled so steadfastly upon us. That we will ever and proudly represent the reputation, standards, and excellence of Fiona DeJoy! Three cheers for the class of five, five, three!” He raised his arms skyward and shouted with the entirety of the student body behind him a loud “Rah, Rah, Rah!”
After the reading of the names of the graduates, after the late night parties with his friends, after the awkward good-bye with his academy girlfriend of the last two years – telling each other that they would write; knowing that they probably wouldn’t. The morning came when he needed to say goodbye to his mother and leave the familiarity of home for the first time in his life.
“You be careful and make sure you write often,” his mother made him promise. “Make sure you study hard we can’t afford for you to lose your scholarship due to poor academics.”
Mom, it’s a warball scholarship I won’t lose my scholarship unless I play like enfer and that’s not going to happen.”
With a tight embrace and a stream of tears from his mother Shane held on to an extended hug, realizing that he would be missing his sole parent more than he realized finding moist eyes himself.
The hugs and the tearful smiles of pride and anxiety finally ended. His moth
er watched him climb aboard the coach and saw it disappear from view as it began the six hundred milos to the Infin Capitol city of Jehhet where Shane would attend Wonstrowd Institute of Science and Art.
The last six months seemed a blur. Shane Chason was in the groove. It and been over three years almost four since his academy graduation. He sometimes still couldn’t believe he was a scholarship student at a major collegium; one of the leading centers in magetech and advance magetech studies. After his arrival he discovered that they highly prized their athletics particularly the warball team and he was welcomed with open arms.
After his first year he had earned a spot as a team starter. He had signed up for the four year magetech degree and much to the surprise of the Dean, several electives that would provide him with a solid back ground in languages, mathematics and mechanical design.
With hours of extra work and practically no social life due mostly to warball practice and his place on the ancient artifact student research group, Shane finally felt that he was nearing his goal; to be considered one of the top magetechs after graduation. He had been able to finagle his way onto the prestigious artifact research group, by impressing his magetech professor through his high marks and extra hours in the lab and it had paid off. The benefit of his being in the student group was the access that allowed him to study first hand, some of the latest artifacts discovered and provided to the school by the Infin Department of Ancient Discoveries (IDAD).
While some of the faculty and other students still saw him as a stereotypical athlete, Shane didn’t mind; for the most part it allowed him more study as most of the other students left him alone. While gregarious and outgoing on the warball field, he preferred the low profile that he enjoyed on the schools artifact research group. He had surpassed his classmates and could now both read and write all of the primary glyphs and translation keys known so far, plus many of the glyphs that many of the professors of magetech had not yet figured out.
