The Erlonan Tales

by D. L. Jordan

  “Are you alright?” Magola asked Dean, placing her hand on his shoulder.

  “Yes…I’m fine…thanks.” Dean said, his heart still racing. Realizing that she was safe, Magola frantically went to the side of the chamber to make sure that her newly found pet SaRee was safe from harm. Dean ran up and stared at the translucent stallion in bewilderment.

  “Thank you,” Dean said to the stallion.

  Go now my child. Fulfill your destiny and our world shall be rid of the turmoil that awaits you. Dean heard the deep voice in his mind. He didn’t know what was happening at that moment, but he felt a bond towards the horse. At that moment, the realization hit him like a ton of bricks, Could this horse be a part of my ancestor? Did it belong to him, somehow? What could this creature have in common with me and my ancestor Amenhotep? He knew that these

  insinuations were absurd but, still, he couldn’t help but wonder. Dean was about to stroke the stallion’s mane but it slowly faded when his palms came near it, leaving Dean’s hands in the cold air of the chamber.

  BECOMING ONE STEP CLOSER

  “Let’s keep moving!” Dean said to Magola as they were walking down a newfound tunnel. They had discovered this tunnel as a secret passageway in the previous chamber. When they entered the second icy chamber Dean and Magola came to a large whirlpool, which consisted of a strange, churning liquid. At its bottom was a mysterious glowing yellow light.

  Dean looked down and noticed that there were unusual looking objects circling within the pool.

  Magola and Dean walked closer to the pool and saw something that would never leave their minds. To Dean’s utter disgust, in the pool was what looked to him like the bodies of people slowly circling in a slow, swirling-motion with vacant looks on their faces.

  “It is The Pool of The Forgotten.” said Magola. “Xanire has kept this pool and the people within it for many years.”

  The small creature they had found named SaRee wiggled nervously in Magola’s arms. Dean and Magola walked around the pool as cool mists fell from its surface. Dean’s eyes were still fixed upon it. As he looked deeper into the center of the pool, a huge being was erupting out

  of its bowels. Dean watched in a sudden regret as it forced its way through the slimy souls and finally past the surface.

  Dean and Magola instinctively stepped away from the pool, knowing that they would soon regret what was coming from its depths. The huge being crept to the pool’s lining, past its murky, black surface. Their eyes widened as they felt the growing dread in their hearts. The being made its way to Dean and Magola as they continued to look on in fear.

  It was then that they saw the creature as it came closer. They stepped back a few more inches. The sharp, poisonous point of the creature’s tail was pointed directly at them both. A giant scorpion, black and deadly, stared and snapped at them menacingly. The duo looked into the scorpion’s eyes and detected its cruelty and malice. SaRee was shaking madly. He jumped out of Magola’s arms and squeezed through a large crack in the wall of the chamber.

  An icy chill went down Dean’s spine. They began to run, holding hands so as not to lose each other. They ran, tripping as they did, without the slightest hesitation towards the exit out of the chamber which led to the next chamber.

  The scorpion slammed its tail up against the exit, thwarting their attempt for survival.

  Dean cried to Magola, “Here, take my hand!” Magola did what he commanded. Dean tried to focus on a place that was far from where they were, but the Tassidain was not able to do his bidding.

  Dean looked at his pocket in confusion and then at the creature. The giant scorpion pointed the tip of its tail at the both of them once again. Magola looked at the desperation on Dean’s face.

  “Hold on to me!” she shouted. He did as she commanded, hoping that eventually they would escape the giant scorpion. At that moment, a cloud circled them both.

  Dean felt the winding of the cloud give off a gale-force wind that whipped his clothes around him. He looked up at the hideous scorpion above him once again and saw it disappear before his eyes through a fog. Dean closed his eyes before opening them again and finding himself in the next chamber. He let go of Magola’s grasp to get a glimpse of the chamber and saw that it contained rocky walls and a floor of stone.

  Magola and Dean were both panting heavily, as if they had run a long distance. They were grateful to be away from the giant scorpion with its snapping claws, watering mouth, and immense stinger.

  “I’ve never been able to do that before. What do you have with you?” Magola asked, shortly after examining her hands as if she had never seen them before.

  Dean pulled out the Tassidain from a pocket of his garments. Magola gasped, concluding that she could only disappear as she did before if she was around the Tassidain.

  “What was that all about?” Dean asked, stuffing the Tassidain back into his pocket. “Nothing,” she replied, her voice shaking.

  Dean looked at her believing she was hiding something. Magola then gave in to his suspicious look.

  “Alright…I’ll tell you. I have powers. I only summoned a spiral like the one before in defense, but never to disappear out of a grave situation. I wish that ability was given to me when I was younger.” Dean shivered as he remembered Magola telling him how long she had been alone in the cavern.

  “What are you talking about?” Dean asked, stepping closer to her.

  “My abilities are the reason I am alone. My people ran me out of my home because they knew who and what I was. They called me a witch. I could barely go into shops to buy food without hearing cruel whispers. I knew it was only a matter of time before they would act.

  “Pharaoh Amenhotep was one of the very few who tried to protect me the night they made me flee to the other side of these mountains. If he didn’t have enough time to distract them as I went, I would probably be dead. I lied to you when I said that I didn’t care for the scepter. I have always wanted to find it. I hoped that it would rid me of this…curse!”

  Magola dropped to the ground, facing the door of the chamber while sobbing uncontrollably. She pounded on the door angrily.

  “Do you know why you have these powers?” Dean asked.

  Magola lifted her head, tears rolling down her cheeks, and said, “I lied to you again when I told you I never knew my father. I have this curse because…Xanire is my father.”

  Dean’s heart sank and his eyes were slowly welling with tears. He took a few steps back from her, realizing in his heart that he was across from the daughter of the most evil figure in all of Erlon. Dean looked down at this helpless person weeping on the floor in front of him, convincing himself that Magola was nothing at all like her father. He continued to pity Magola before finally comforting her.

  “Well, if your powers are a curse to you… then they’re a blessing to me.”

  Magola looked up at Dean. The frown that had appeared on her face because of her weeping had transformed into a broad smile. The tears from her eyes instantly began to cease as she dried them. He helped her from the chamber floor.

  As Dean and Magola got up to continue their journey, little did they know that it was almost over. They had just stumbled into the final chamber. It was the phenomenal size of nearly

  four football fields. A bright and shining white light suddenly appeared and shined on them from behind. They could feel the light on their backs, turning around to see a sight that made Dean’s mouth drop and his heart skip.

  There, on an altar at the top of many stone steps, was the sacred elemental scepter lying on the altar in all its glory. It was the single, most beautiful sight they had ever beheld. It was just as Queen Lila had described. It was made of gold and very slender. At its top was a triangle- shaped white diamond and its golden body was encrusted with colorful jewels.

  The light that Dean and Magola had felt earlier was shining on the scepter from above through the high ceiling. Dean walked across the wide, long stone floor of the chamber. He climbed the stairs
and entered the scepter’s presence, both tired and thrilled at once.

  He was amazed to see a three-story tall monument, dedicated to the faces of the Pulchran wise men carved into the rock wall far behind the scepter. Magola was breathless at the sight of the carving. It added to the magnificence of the room.

  Dean reached for the scepter, smiling at his accomplishment and the scepter’s beauty. He was startled to see in front of him a kingly figure in midair.

  The figure wore a white linen garment and a crown that had the small heads of a cobra and a bird on its front. The figure wore a pendant of an object that was in the form of an oval on top of a cross shape.

  The figure was the spirit of Pharaoh Amenhotep. He was looking upon Dean’s face with adoration in his eyes. Dean gazed upon the face of his ancestor and bowed to him in front of the altar. He shivered as Amenhotep went through the altar and touched his cheek.

  “My dear child, you are the sole heir to my seat of kings and a most noble champion.

  You, therefore, shall not bow to me.”

  Dean stood as Amenhotep hoisted him up. Dean felt as if he had known him his entire life. Amenhotep turned and spoke again, lifting the scepter as Dean let go of it.

  “Take this object that I laid here, deep in these mountains, and defeat Xanire. Defeat him not only for the sake of our world, but also for Avesia. Continue to take care of your new friends and remember who you are…and who you always will be.”

  Those last few words of Amenhotep stayed inside Dean’s mind as Amenhotep’s spirit faded into a mist. Dean stepped down from the altar with the scepter, which was unexpectedly delicate in his hands. He walked down the stone steps to the chamber floor where Magola stood bewildered.

  “You’ve retrieved the scepter! Many people have journeyed to find this treasure, but a mere boy like you has done the impossible. At last, you possess what you have sought.”

  Dean looked at Magola’s face, grateful that she was appreciative of what he had accomplished. However, his feeling of gratitude turned to horror as he saw Magola’s face turn from admiration to jealousy. She ran towards him, pouncing on Dean wrathfully with the intentions of taking the scepter from his grasp.

  Dean struggled against Magola as she wrestled him to the ground. Dean was surprised by her strength yet he felt stabbed in the back by her sudden act of betrayal.

  “I have searched for the scepter much longer than you have, my friend. I should have it!” Magola said furiously. Dean struggled for control of the scepter as they fought. Magola retreated from their fight as Dean jumped to his feet. Magola then summoned her powers once again.

  A magnificent cloud appeared out of her left hand and hit Dean in his arm like a whip, causing him to drop the scepter. Dean fell to the ground, clutching the stinging pain in his arm.

  He hurried to the scepter even though his arm had just been hit. Magola hurried to it as well, but Dean snatched it just in time. He tried to stand up, trying to ignore or at least endure the pain.

  Magola was ready to continue the fight. As Dean got up from the ground, he could feel the spirit of Amenhotep appear behind him. Dean did not turn around to notice. He was too busy focusing on Magola. Amenhotep started to speak silently through Dean. Dean whispered Amenhotep’s voice to himself, stroking the lion pendant around his neck with his left hand and holding the scepter in his right. He shouted in desperation, “Help me to defeat all odds!”

  At that moment, the scepter gyrated in Dean’s hands. A bright and forceful ray of white light bombarded through the tip of its diamond. The spirit of Amenhotep was no longer behind Dean. With a daring act, he turned the scepter towards Magola. The ray of light struck Magola and forced her to collide into the wall, causing her to weaken. Magola raised herself from the ground and lifted her head. They were the only ones in the chamber now. They were no longer friends. Instead they were enemies, fighting to possess the power of the scepter. This fact devastated Dean, but he knew that he had to face reality. The simple truth was that he had been betrayed by Magola’s determination to seize the scepter and so, in order to survive, he had to make sure that she didn’t accomplish her goal.

  For a moment, they looked at each other in betrayal. A dead silence filled the chamber.

  Dean went closer to her. Magola walked towards him and said, “This ends now!”

  As Magola was about to make her final attempt to defeat Dean, a force interrupted her by erupting from the ground in an armor made of iron. A winged helmet was on the figure’s head and an eerie silence filled the room.

  “It is my turn now,” Xanire spoke harshly. He then withdrew a huge ball of mountain rock from the nose of one of the wise men in the chamber’s monument and aimed it towards Dean. The rocky ball came at Dean at an uninhibited speed. Dean’s eyes widened as he began to run, the ball of rock trailing behind him.

  In a desperate attempt to evade the rock, Dean stopped and placed the scepter in front of him. The ball of rock hit the surface of the scepter with an intense impact before deflecting off its surface, making its way towards Magola. Dean stood and was amazed at the scepter’s resistance. Magola stood in the chamber, her trembling hands clutching her mouth and her heart racing. As the ball came towards her she started to run. Dean could hear a small chuckle of delight come from under Xanire’s mask.

  The rock ball made its way closer and closer. Dean remembered the Tassidain in his pocket and appeared in the middle of the rock ball’s path to Magola. Magola instantly stopped with her mouth agape and her eyes large and round.

  Dean stood in front of her in a defensive manner. His attempt to save her proved to be the opposite. The rock ball had stopped in front of Dean, dodged around him, and hit Magola. Dean turned and saw, with the utmost horror, Magola’s lifeless body fall to the ground.

  Dean’s heart felt as if it skipped a beat as he watched her body, for some strange reason, disappear from the chamber floor. The pain of losing a friend crushed his spirit. Once again, Dean felt the sadness and desperation he had felt that night in Atlanta seven years ago.

  It was because of Xanire he had to adapt to a new way of life to endure training against his will in a strange place, just so he would be ready for his return. It was because of Xanire he was now separated from the Rulers. And it was because of Xanire that Magola, his friend, and Xanire’s own daughter, had been killed in front of Dean’s eyes.

  Dean was too enraged with Xanire to even remember his own name. His eyes were burning to release his tears, and his body felt weak. He looked up and saw Xanire’s masked face set on him. The two were finally alone.

  “Where did you think you could go running away like that?” Xanire said to Dean with a calm tone. “There are savage creatures in these mountains. They could have hurt you and caused you a great deal of pain…but not as much pain as you are about to feel.”

  Dean held the scepter and prepared for the worst. The confrontation between Xanire and the descendant of Amenhotep, heir to the Pulchran throne of Avesia, was about to begin.

  Xanire gave out a loud cry of fury and started to stampede towards Dean. Dean jumped just in time. When Xanire was still down, he took the scepter and clonked him on the head, making Xanire even more infuriated.

  “Enough child’s play!” Xanire bellowed. He began to stretch, ripping his armor as he grew in height.

  Xanire’s armor fell and shattered to the ground to reveal his true face and form. Seconds later, a monstrous winged creature appeared made of fire and coal stood in front of Dean. His claws and teeth were sharp and gruesome, and his eyes were a sight that would cause the bravest person to run in fear.

  Dean looked at the creature and realized that he was possibly going up against the worst thing imaginable. Doubt circled his mind and conscience, but a voice within told him not to falter. Dean listened to the voice and stood his ground to fight, thinking to himself that he must have been a fool to have stayed in the chamber.

  Xanire gave out a huge roar and said, “Nothing can save you now! Y
our fate is sealed!

  All of Erlon will finally be mine to control! You have failed your ancestor!”

  When Xanire finished his statement, Dean angrily used the scepter against him. But the horned serpent that had captured him before swiped it from his grasp with its tail. As it flew to the top of the chamber wall, it let out a loud cry like that of an eagle. Dean looked at the serpent with a peculiar glare as its scaly skin turned to multicolored feathers. Its nostrils began to turn into that of a bird’s beak and its tail turned from long and slender scales to colorful fanning feathers.

  The creature flew to a ledge at the top of the chamber, placed the scepter on the ledge, and perched itself beside it, while changing first to its other form and then to its human form…Cacellon.

  THE BATTLE OF THE MOUNTAINS

  “You?! You’re working for him?!” Dean shouted angrily from below at Cacellon while pointing a trembling finger to Xanire in surprise. “Then, why did you try to help me?”

  “This is where I belong now, Dean!” Cacellon cried. “I had no idea you would fall so willingly into our trap. When you were babbling on about no longer wanting to stay in Avesia this delighted me. As we flew over the Ice Waters for the second time, I attempted to throw you off my back and into the sea to thwart you as Xanire waited for you at the bottom. I only helped you in ways such as your training because it was part of my duty.”