David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb

by T. C. Crawford

  He slowly climbed down the tree making sure to have a firm hold on every branch before reaching for the next. When he reached the ground, he set out in the direction towards the opening, remaining cautious and suspecting that he may be being followed.

  As David hiked through the undergrowth following what looked like an animal path, he felt a strange tingling at the back of his neck as if he were being watched. A subtle rustling in the thicket behind David scattered some squirrels a few yards to his left, confirming his paranoia.

  He turned, scanning the shadows behind him, looking for any sign of movement, but there was nothing there. Suspecting whatever was following him was the source of the voice from earlier, David kept walking. So far, nothing had made him feel like it posed a threat, whatever it was, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to find out, either.

  After a few more minutes of hacking through the forest David finally reached the clearing.

  He found himself facing a large stone structure that was carved right out of the mountain. It had large, round pillars in the front supporting a massive overhang that covered a great patio-like section. There was a wide, mossy cobblestone path leading from the edge of the clearing up to the entrance of the structure, beyond which was a dark tunnel leading into the heart of the mountain.

  David cautiously walked forward, checking his surroundings with every step he took and feeling very exposed in the wide clearing. The fact that the clearing existed at all told David that this structure was being maintained, otherwise the open area would have been overrun by the forest.

  Time had a way of burying all the feats of mankind sooner or later, no matter how grand or important, if they were left to its whims.

  David thought that the structure looked vaguely familiar, but he quickly shrugged off the thought, figuring it was just his imagination getting the best of him.

  He knew he had never been to a place such as this – never knowing anywhere but the few square miles between the orphanage and the school system, which happened to be large enough to house all three levels of school – Elementary, Middle, and High School – a great way to ensure kids like him got picked on by bullies of all ages and sizes throughout their tenure.

  When David reached the first of the large stone steps, he stood before the massive doorway. It was larger than it originally seemed and made him feel smaller than he had ever felt before.

  When he finally mustered enough courage, David peeked inside. It was extremely dark, but he could see a small opening emitting a gentle light at the far end of the tunnel.

  “David…” the voice came again, only stronger than before.

  “What do you want with me? How do you know my name?” David screamed, his voice echoing down the dark corridor. But still he received no response.

  A strong but gentle breeze slowly pushed against his back, urging him forward into the darkness of the mountain. He could feel that the voice and the breeze were connected, that they both wanted him to go into the structure and find whatever awaited him at the end of the tunnel. Something told him that the voice, whatever it was, wasn’t dangerous.

  Oh boy…I’ve lost it. I’ve definitely lost it.

  The breeze pushed him again, more forceful this time. “Okay! Okay! I’m going!” David shouted.

  All right…here goes nothing. He swallowed his fear and slowly crossed the threshold of the doorway.

  As he walked, he could feel the air around him dancing and swirling like a playful child, encouraging him to keep going. He had no clue what he would find when he reached the end, but something was urging him to keep moving – urging him to go and see what was at the end of the tunnel.

  He felt something stirring within him, something he couldn’t explain, but it was growing stronger and stronger with every step he took to the point that he couldn’t turn back now even if he wanted; in fact, much to his own surprise, he didn’t want to turn back. He was compelled to keep going, driven by something natural, yet foreign from anything he had ever felt before.

  By the time David had reached the doorway the uneasiness was gone, and his heart was racing uncontrollably. Sweat was beading on his forehead and his fingers were tingling with anticipation of what was to come.

  The light had grown progressively brighter with each step he took and now he could see that it was pulsing. He could feel his heart nearly beating out of his chest. He was unsure whether it was fear or something else, but strangely it didn’t matter. All he knew was that he must continue, he must keep going. He took his first step through the doorway and into the light enshrouded room that lay beyond.

  As his eyes adjusted, David found himself in a large circular chamber. A soft buzzing noise, like electricity, was echoing throughout the room. David wondered if there was some sort of machine producing the strange light and sound.

  He looked around and his eyes caught something in the middle of the chamber - it was beautiful, and immediately his heart and mind exploded with a sense of purpose.

  There it was – the source of his enchantment. It stood on a pedestal in the center of the room, surrounded by several large, decorated pillars with intricate carvings from top to bottom.

  Beyond the pillars, masterfully woven tapestries lined the walls, each decorated with some fluid form of writing and ornate paintings depicting majestic landscapes, sprawling cities, and heroic battles.

  On top of the pedestal sat a crystal orb. Not just any ordinary orb. No one would go to such lengths to display just an ordinary piece of crystal. No. This Orb was special. David could feel it radiating a mysterious energy unlike anything he had ever felt.

  Inside the chasm, a beam of light marvelously shot from a shaft in the ceiling, allowing the sunlight to shine through at precisely the right place and time to illuminate the pedestal with its glorious rays. As the light struck the orb, it sent countless shards of refracted beams throughout the chasm in a spectacular display.

  The timing was perfect, and in that moment, David knew that whoever made this temple had made it for the precise moment in time and space in which he now stood.

  Driven by an innate desire, David slowly walked towards the orb.

  If he hadn’t been so entranced, he would have thought it strange that as he moved closer to the orb, it began to rise, remaining suspended only inches above the pedestal. He would have felt the tingling sensation flow throughout his body that caused his hair to stand on end and his skin to crawl. But instead, all David could focus on was the familiar voice sounding in his head, compelling him to move forward, compelling him to take the orb.

  Like a casual observer, David watched as his hand reached out to grab the orb from the air. After what felt like an eternity, his fingers finally wrapped around the orb and his mind exploded with power.

  His body was engulfed in a whirlwind of air and pulsating light. His clothes and hair flapped wildly in the wind and his body began to rise with the orb. Coming to his senses, he started to panic and tried to let go, but his hand held fast. The orb sank into his hand and vanished, filling his body with warmth unlike anything he had ever felt.

  His heart was beating impossibly fast, his breathing became uncontrollable, and his mind raced with countless images as he was blinded by an intense white light.

  When the light finally dimmed David found himself hovering silently above a dark misty field on the outskirts of a massive forest. David quickly recognized the forest and field as the ones he saw in this new world he found himself in.

  A man stood in the middle of the field. He had dark hair and eyes and a wicked grin on his face. He was clothed in what appeared to be armor like knights wore back in the day, only more ornate and apparently much lighter and easier to move in from the way he was moving so effortlessly back and forth. He was pacing as if he were waiting for something... or someone.

  On his one side was amassed a majestic army. It was illuminated by a blinding light seemingly emitted from the heavens above, sparkling off endless mirror-like shields and armor. On the oth
er side stood an equally large army shrouded in a thick, unnatural darkness, with thousands of yellow eyes and fangs piercing through the blackness from beneath their helmets.

  Both sides were colossal, and it was apparent that they were both ready to fight to the death. The man in the middle stood unconcerned and unafraid and wore a smug look on his face.

  What was he doing? David wondered, as he floated above the scene trying to make sense of it all.

  Without warning, the man raised his arms and looked up to the dark stormy skies. He had something in his hand… something small, but powerful. It was glowing brightly with a fierce intensity.

  That light…it’s the same color as the orb, thought David, looking down at his hand that had held the orb. It had burned an impression into the back of his hand like a tattoo, and now softly glowed the same light as before, only dimmer.

  Instantly, bolts of lightning radiated from the dark man’s hands and were driven into the earth beneath his feet. He slammed the object into the ground with such ferocity David swore it would shatter the earth. It nearly did.

  The earth began to shake and rumble from the depths below, causing massive fissures to form in the ground. The army of light began to scatter to avoid falling into the fissures, but many were taken by the darkness and fell to their doom. Their cries were thunderous, and the army of darkness fell on them like ravenous wolves, seemingly unaffected by the shattering earth around them.

  The armies fought on, but David knew the battle was over before it started – the army of light would lose.

  His heart sank within his chest at the scene of death and destruction before him. He felt as if he lost a loved one, a feeling he had never known, and surprisingly, he began to weep.

  Suddenly, something caught his eye as he peered deep into the darkness. David saw a strange green light shining from the depth of the fissures, and an unfathomable terror began to fill his heart.

  The dark man stood up and, much to David’s surprise, looked directly at him and smiled, sending a cold shiver down his spine. He held up his hand and made a throat cutting gesture, then threw back his head and let out a vicious laugh.

  The vision faded into darkness and left David with a sense of despair he would not easily forget.

  Chapter III

  David sat up half dazed with his head aching terribly and the sound of distant talking and footsteps echoing in the tunnel. Shaking off the dizziness, David jumped to his feet and ran behind the furthest pillar in an attempt to remain hidden. Moments passed before he could clearly hear the voices. They sounded distressed.

  “The enchantments are no longer in place, what could have possibly removed them” came a soft voice.

  “That is but one of the mysteries that has brought us here.” a raspy voice responded.

  An elderly man and young woman walked into the chamber, heading towards the now empty pedestal.

  The man was dressed in plain, off-white robes and had long white hair that flowed down his back. He held a long metal staff with a crystal ball on its crest in his hand, using it as a walking stick.

  The woman to his side had long dark hair with crystal blue eyes and a face that was delicate, yet firm. What little skin was not covered from her rose-colored, silk-like robe seemed to radiate a soft glow in the dim-lit room. David cautiously watched from behind the pillar as the pair walked up to the pedestal, careful to make sure he didn’t expose himself too much and garner their attention.

  “Ah. Just as I had suspected…. the orb is missing.” said the elderly man.

  David looked down at his hand to confirm what he had seen in his vision. The back of his hand had the orb embedded into his skin, only it was flat like a tattoo. It was glowing softly, emitting the same soft pulsing light as before. He looked back up to watch the couple, trying to determine if they were a threat or not.

  “Do you think…could it be…that the warrior from the prophecy has finally come? I thought it to be just a legend, a childhood story. You do not think it to be true, do you, Tyrius?” she asked the man.

  “That I cannot answer, child, but one could only guess that it may indeed be true. Otherwise we must assume the worst – that it has been stolen by a powerful wizard the likes of which we have not seen in ages.” said Tyrius.

  He turned around and looked at the young woman with fierce intensity.

  “I must alert the Royal Guards at once and tell them what we have found. They will send out a search party to try and find the missing orb – if indeed that can be done! If that orb has wound up in the wrong hands it could be the end of the world as we know it! Alternatively, if the warrior from prophecy has truly come, we must find him first or risk losing everything.”

  Tyrius put his hand on the woman’s shoulder and stood silent for a moment, letting the implications sink in. “Erin, you understand the importance of what is happening, don't you? The fate of the world depends on us now, you understand?”

  The young woman shook her head. “Yes…I think so.”

  Convinced his message was well received, Tyrius let go of Erin’s shoulder and seemed prepared to leave but stopped briefly.

  “In the meantime, search the room. There may be something that will give us a clue of what has happened here. Once you finish your investigation and are certain there is nothing left to find, report back to the Elders at once. As for me, I will go and speak with the King. He must be informed of this development! And Erin…be careful!”

  “Yes, Master, as you wish.” replied Erin with a slight bow.

  David watched as the elderly man spun about and briskly left the room, his feet echoing throughout the corridor before he faded into the darkness.

  His attention instantly focused on the young woman. He watched as she silently glided across the room to the empty pedestal. Being sure to not make a sound, David snuck around the outer rim of the room to get a better view.

  “I always heard stories of the prophecies” the young woman said to herself, “but never did I suspect they would actually come to pass. I never thought….”

  David watched as she walked to the other side of the room examining the tapestries on the walls and lightly running her fingers across them. She seemed absorbed in them.

  As he walked behind her, quickly slipping from behind one pillar to the next, his body began to tingle with anxiety. David was only a couple feet away from her now, so close he could almost grab her shoulder. She was quietly mumbling something to herself about the paintings and David noticed she was reading what looked like some foreign language.

  “Here it is.” she said.

  “The light for ages remains asleep, Forgotten it will become, Until the one arrives it seeks, Darkness will overcome.”

  She read the script over and over to herself, trying to find any clues that would help her solve the mystery of the missing orb, but her efforts seemed fruitless. She continued on,

  “The orb awakened will unite, The chosen one is found, Together they must lead the fight, The darkness shall be bound.”

  As David listened to the woman read the passages, he felt a wave of nausea overcome him. He remembered the horrifying monsters from his vision and how they demolished the army of light. Was that to be his fate?

  Am I this Chosen one? What does it mean “lead the fight”? he wondered. He was no warrior; he knew that much. This prophecy surely couldn’t be about him…. could it?

  He closed his eyes and stooped down behind the pillar to gather his composure until the nausea lifted. When his stomach finally settled, he opened his eyes and his stomach dropped once again.

  The young woman was standing before him with a small dagger pointing only inches from his throat.

  “Who are you?” she said, a fierce look in her eyes.

  “My name is David Bishop. I mean you no harm.” He slowly raised his hands upward to show he was unarmed.

  “What are you doing here? Did you steal the orb?” she asked, narrowing her eyes, and jabbing her dagger threateningly toward hi
s chest.

  “I didn’t steal anything! I was just looking, I swear, but then something…. happened” he replied.

  “What do you mean…?” she asked, her expression curious but skeptical.

  He slowly overturned his hand to show her the orb imbedded in his flesh.

  She gasped, “My God, the legends are true!” She slowly returned her dagger back to its sheath inside her robes and reached out as if to touch his hand, but then instinctively pulled it back.

  “May I?” she asked. Her complete demeanor had changed since she saw the orb in David’s hand. Seeing the orb in his hand filled her with a fascination and wonder that superseded her initial distrust.

  “Um…sure.” he replied, slowly stretching out his hand for her to examine.

  Erin grabbed his hand and turned it over and over, running her fingers across the design of the orb glowing softly in his skin. The feeling of her gentle touch on his hand sent shivers up David’s arm and down his spine. He had never had a girl hold his hand before.

  “So…. your name is Erin?” David asked, trying to get his mind off the thought of this beautiful young woman holding his hand.

  “Yes…how did…. oh, you must have overheard us talking earlier. Erin Alderan” replied Erin, still fixated on his orb hand. “Does it hurt?” she asked him.

  “No…it doesn’t really feel like anything at all. If I couldn’t see it, I wouldn’t even know it was there” he replied honestly.

  “So…David Bishop…where are you from? You clearly are not from around here.” she said bluntly, looking over his clothes.

  “Umm…well, I’m not sure how I got here, really.” replied David, “But, I’m from an orphanage from…. far away from here” he said quickly, not sure how she would react to his story about the glowing glob transporting him from another world into her own.

  “You do not know how you got here?” She asked skeptically, raising her eyebrow and looking at him with an intense gaze.