by D. L. Jordan
Cacellon then told Dean that it was getting late and that he should retire to bed as soon as possible. Dean agreed and went with Cacellon to the third staircase, which led to the corridor that contained the bedroom he slept in just seven years ago.
When they finally reached his room, Dean was surprised to see that it had not changed since the last time he saw it. It was, of course, just as clean as it was when he first saw it, and he was glad that the fireplace was lit.
Cacellon bade Dean a goodnight and then quickly left the room. As Dean lay on the bed, he closed his eyes to listen to the crackling of the fireplace. As he listened, his mind was filled with thoughts of training to be a future Ruler.
He imagined sitting on the throne in front of many people who admired and loved him. He was now taken into this beautiful place to fulfill a beautiful future. As Dean stroked the lion necklace that hung from his neck, it seemed that nothing could possibly go wrong.
THE GREAT GUARDIAN OF THE ICE WATERS
One week had passed since Dean’s arrival in The Marble Palace. There hadn’t been any sign of Xanire’s return. He felt at home and had seen a great deal of the palace with the aid of Cacellon, who would sometimes have to do this whenever the Rulers were busy fulfilling their diplomatic duties throughout the city of Yailon.
Dean had taken a walk around the courtyard in which Amenhotep was murdered by Xanire’s horses. When he did it was as if he was there on that fateful evening. Just being inside the courtyard gave Dean an eerie feeling, as if some force was there with him whenever he visited. The first visit had caused Dean not to want to return to the courtyard until this day.
He walked past the columns, in front of the grand, violet marble staircase in the entrance hall. He was on his way to the dining hall for a breakfast prepared by the palace chefs, when he was approached by Empress Xian. Dean stopped as soon as the empress called out to him from the top of the staircase. Her eyes were fixed on Dean, and he started to come closer to the empress. Dean tried to ignore the sound of his growling stomach. Empress Xian asked Dean if he had been under the palace.
“What do you mean?” Dean asked with suspicion. He thought that something was wrong and that the empress automatically wanted to blame him for it.
“I mean, have you been under the palace to see the fish? There are so many of them. We have an aquarium, you know. It’s almost impossible to miss, so I’m surprised you haven’t seen it yet. It’s a shame for you not to see the beautiful place we keep our fish.”
Dean stood dazed as his hunger began to slowly overtake him.
“It’s something I can’t really explain. I’ll have to show you at once! Follow me, please!” she said with a wide smile. The Empress led Dean down a corridor that was lit with many torches. They then came to a spiraling stone staircase before Empress Xian stopped at a metallic door. Dean’s head was down as he tried to catch his breath. He raised it quickly when he saw the remarkable sight before him. A large window was on each side of two walls and the ceiling.
Both of them were as high as skyscrapers and as wide as a large house. The windows showed a world of many colorful fish, plants, and other aquatic life from a bottom-dweller’s point of view.
Dean walked down from the steps to one of the windows to gaze down at the wonders that awaited him. He looked into the large valley of coral reefs that he had seen on his first arrival to Avesia seven years ago. They shimmered beautifully under the flowing light of the morning sun, which Dean could see under the still surface of the water. Dean then saw a Bluban Blangot swimming along carefree with its thin blue body and oddly shaped fins and tail.
Following the Bluban Blangot was a very large creature swimming past as Empress Xian and Dean gazed at it through the window.
The creature was swimming very closely to them. Dean could feel the vibration and rumbling of its massive body as it passed. He took a closer look at the creature and saw that it was at least one hundred feet in length and one hundred and fifty tons or more in weight. It had a
grayish tone like an elephant and two large flippers were attached on each side of its body. The massive creature also had a long tail and neck.
As Dean gazed at this magnificent sight, the creature gave out a loud high-pitched noise that sounded to Dean like “Hello.”
“Here we are,” said Xian. Dean was startled by the sudden appearance of her voice. “It’s fantastic, isn’t it?” He said, his heart pounding so fast that when he spoke it sounded like a breathless gasp.
“Dean…Dean…Dean,” said a cold and ensnaring voice from inside Dean’s head. His heart almost stopped and beads of sweat formed on his brow as he heard the eerie voice call his name repeatedly. Dean looked around fearfully to see if someone besides Empress Xian was around him. He turned to one of the large windows where the voice in his head seemed to be the loudest and saw a strange, fiery figure emerge from the bottom of the sea.
Dean ran out of the aquarium all the way through the front mahogany doors. He entered the warmth of the outside air and saw Cacellon in his phoenix form, stretching his wings in the gardens in the front of the palace.
“Cacellon…Cacellon!” Dean yelled in desperation. Cacellon immediately flew down to him in alarm.
“Yes, Dean? What is it?”
“I want to leave this place now and forget it ever existed! Take me to the Candle Forest, immediately”
“What…but-” “No buts…now!”
Cacellon did as Dean had commanded him. He quickly hopped onto Cacellon’s back before they ascended into the air, over the Ice Waters, and towards the Candle Forest. Dean looked back and could see Empress Xian coming to stop them, but she was too late. Even though Dean was far away, he could see the disappointment fall upon the empress’s face as she saw them flying near the clouds.
“Is everything alright? What’s wrong, Dean?” asked Cacellon as they were over the Ice Waters.
“Nothing!” Dean answered. He did not want to reveal the true reason why he wanted so desperately to leave.
“But…”
“Just fly, Cacellon!” Dean commanded in frustration. He clutched the lion necklace around his neck, feeling the tears of confusion and anger swelling up inside him before they flowed from his eyes.
Dean stared down at the still water and tried not to think about what he had just seen at its bottom just moments ago. He looked back at the beautiful metropolis and sighed. He realized what he was throwing away, such as the Rulers, his life with the Sabulra’s, and his once coveted fate of becoming the new ruler of the Pulchran throne.
Cacellon made a sudden jump. Dean, unable to tighten his grip around Cacellon’s long neck, quickly fell off of his back. Dean gazed blankly at the surface of the water below as he could see his reflection coming closer and closer. He could feel the air rushing past him and his heart sank as his fear of hitting the water became a sudden reality.
Once below the surface, Dean felt as if he was inside a glacier of ice. The sensation overtook his spine and head, his body becoming numb and his vision blurry as he tried to view
his surroundings. Dean quickly tried to pull himself to the surface, but this action proved unsuccessful. He had almost sunk to the bottom when a rotted hand started to reach for him from below the ocean floor. A large school of fish passed by Dean and carried him on their backs.
Through the water, it looked as if Dean was floating on an immense yellow blanket. Just then, the large creature Dean had seen moments ago carefully snatched him up in its mouth. The school of fish quickly departed.
As the huge sea creature slowly drifted in the water with Dean securely in its mouth, a burning ball of lava shot the creature in its left side like a cannon. The force of the fireball caused the creature to shout out in agonizing pain.
Dean was in the creature’s mouth that was filled with ocean water. All the water contained within the creature’s mouth suddenly drained into its esophagus. Dean was in its mouth with nothing but himself and the air around him. More water s
tarted to come into the creature’s mouth and rose to the top of Dean’s knees. Dean thought the large creature would swallow him at any moment. He knew it was the figure that had tried to destroy the creature.
The figure continued to attack them. The creature swam away as fast as it could. The huge creature carrying Dean in its mouth moved hastily, dodging rocks and coral. Dean bumped and turned against the walls of the creature’s mouth and its teeth. But his surroundings were suddenly becoming smaller. The creature was swimming into a hole in an underwater mountain. He knew the figure was too large to swim through the hole, so Dean knew he was safe.
The massive creature came to an abrupt stop and then opened its mouth. Dean stumbled dizzily out, landing on a sandy surface. The creature took its long tail and lightly shoved Dean’s stomach, making water spill from his mouth.
As Dean looked around, he found that he was in a cave that was devoid of water. He rested on the dry sand from all the excitement, wanting to thank the creature for saving him, but he simply did not have the energy to do so. He felt light-headed.
“You look cold,” said the creature.
Dean realized that the creature was a male by its voice. His eyes widened with amazement as he stared at the tremendous, whale-like beast. He saw the thinly rimmed mouth of the large creature as it moved, projecting words to him. The creature blew a warm breeze from his mouth and Dean was, surprisingly, instantly warmed. Dean wondered how this was possible, but he knew it was more important to thank the creature for saving his life.
“You are most welcome, young one.”
Dean wanted to run away from the talking creature, but realized that the effort would be pointless. He had seen some strange things while living on the island of Avesia, but never had he seen anything like this before.
“Do not be afraid of me, young master. My name is Tekiao and I am the great plesiosaur of the Ice Waters and the underwater protector of the sea. I know who you are, Dean. I saw you and my old friend Cacellon from the depths of the sea as you were taking in your first visit to the island those seven years ago.”
“What was that thing you saved me from, if you don’t mind me asking?” Dean said shakily as he looked at the burn on Tekiao’s side.
“What we escaped from was a most terrifying evil,” he began. “He has haunted and stalked the creatures of this place for many, many years since his defeat. You are very fortunate to have been found and rescued.”
“Why?” Dean asked.
Tekiao stretched his long reptilian neck downward to meet his face with Dean’s. Dean gazed into his large, great eyes.
“For many years, the figure who was chasing us has been residing in a cave below a volcano on the other side of the sea. I’ve stalked him many times and have often heard him speak of how much he must find the heir of Amenhotep and reclaim what was once his. You are in terrible danger my friend. Xanire is quickly regaining his power.”
Dean’s palms began to sweat, his eyes widened with fear, and his heart began to pound very rapidly. He looked into Tekiao’s large and black eyes as they blinked at him. He could tell that Tekiao could sense the fear that had risen within him.
“I know that you are afraid, Dean. You have every right to be. But there is still hope in our little world of chaos. There is a sacred object that will aid you in defeating Xanire.”
“You mean the scepter that’s in Pulchra?” “Yes, how do you know of it?”
“Queen Lila told me all about it and how it was tied to Pharaoh Amenhotep and the defeat of Xanire when I arrived at the palace a week ago. But, I’m afraid to say that I am already tired of this place.” Dean looked down at the dry sand and picked up a pebble before throwing it into the water that surrounded him and Tekiao.
“Be of good faith, little Dean. You are capable of great things and your fate is extraordinary. Don’t become discouraged just because things aren’t turning out the way you planned them.”
Dean stared into the dark and tranquil eyes of Tekiao, pondering his words, as he started to talk once more.
“Did Queen Lila also inform you that each country, before the War of The Lost, always had an object that contained its main source of power and was located deeply within that country? If a country’s object was ever destroyed, or put to use for evil purposes, it would be the end of that civilization completely. Avesia’s main source of power is an orb located deep within the tunnels of its earth. The elemental scepter used by Amenhotep was once the source of power for Pulchra. This is one of the reasons why Amenhotep sent it back there. For generations, many have taken the quest in search of this scepter after hearing its use against Xanire, but none have prevailed. If you should fail…well…the consequences are too ghastly to discuss. Since you do not harness the natural Pulchran power over the elements, the scepter will harness them for you. It is your duty and your destiny to retrieve this scepter, repeat the act of your ancestor, and relieve Avesia and our world of Xanire. Your legend is far older than you realize. In fact, it’s even older than Yailon itself.”
“What do you mean?” Dean asked. Could there be something else that the Rulers never told me? he thought.
THE TRUTH
Tekiao then recited to Dean the prophecy that was recited dozens of years ago.
“A destined child there will come, from another world he will be from. The heir to the throne he will be,
from the sight of evil he will never be free.
When his interest is found,
Upon the back of the Phoenix he shall be Yailon bound.
When the need of his people will be dire,
he will come to their aid with wind, earth, water, and fire.
From the Rulers of Yailon he shall be taught, And from his duties he will falter not.
He will journey to distant lands, with the fate of a people in his hands.
He will meet with allies in different regions,
and they will be a part of his many legions. The greatest evil he will face will be grave,
And to succeed against it he will have to be brave.
When his great rule will succumb, the end of Erlon shall finally come.”
“Realizing the importance of the message,” continued Tekiao, “Amenhotep had the prophecy sent to every leader of Erlon, in the hopes the world would be prepared for someone who would come from another world. That someone is you, Dean. Only you can rid our world of Xanire. Now that I have saved you, Xanire will try to destroy me. We must go to the surface now! I suspect that he is gone.”
Dean quickly climbed back into Tekiao’s mouth. Tekiao swam through the water quickly, ever alert. After Tekiao broke through the surface of the Ice Waters, he swam towards the shores to place Dean on the white sands of the beach.
“Here you are, young one. You are safe now.”
Dean stepped out of his mouth and onto the warm sand. It was early evening, and the twilight of the sky above them was a collage of culminating red and blue hues. The air was warm and a slight breeze was flowing through the beach for a brief period of time. Dean did not realize that he had been beneath the surface of the Ice Waters for almost the entire day. Time seemed to pass by so quickly.
“Farewell, Dean! I bid you good luck on your mission to destroy Xanire.” “Thank you so much for all that you’ve done,” Dean responded with a smile.
He stood on the sands of the beach with every inch of him drenched in the salty smell of the sea. Tekiao gave out a high-pitched goodbye to him as he swam back into the depths of the water. Dean realized that he needed to return to the Rulers. He made his way through the white sands of the beach and towards the palace.
***
When Dean reached the city of Yailon, its lights were becoming brighter in the shadow of the setting sun. He was surprised to see that the streets of the city were littered with Yailonian police who were looking in almost every direction. He assumed they were looking for him.
“Dean, there you are!” said Mr. Dasrem Frulore, “Everyone’s been worried sick ab
out you. I see that you like to play with ocean water, huh?” He looked Dean up and down, briefly chuckling. “The Rulers have had us out here in the city searching for you all day. They believe you’ve run away. That would have been terrible if you had. The entire city is depending on you to rid it of Xanire.”
“As a matter of fact, sir, I did run away. What do you mean the whole city is depending on me?”
“Why would you want to run away with such a big responsibility on your hands?” “It’s complicated. I don’t really feel like explaining it right now.”
“Well, if you say so. But, yes, the entire city knows you are Amenhotep’s rightful heir.
We know you are the one who can prevent Xanire’s possible return.” “How does everyone know that?”
“Word travels fast in this city. I’d think you of all people would know that. But, if I were you, I would watch out for Madu. He may not be very expressive with his emotions, but I don’t think he’ll take too kindly to someone taking his throne away.”
Dean couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He thought that his rise from a farm boy to the pharaoh of the Pulchran throne was just a prized secret that was kept between him, the Rulers, and Cacellon, but now it was out in the open for everyone. Disappointment weighed him down and the burden of receiving this information felt like he had just been hit by a moving vehicle.
