Title Pending (Chapter Two)

The courtyard of Tuivory Castle was slowly being layered with a thin sheet of snow, as the fluffy white ice fell from the heavens. The benches that were once rotted away and broken had now been rebuilt by Gan since the time they found the castle several years ago. Even though he and Avon decided to continue living in their home in Arzorn, Gan still spent much time here learning its secrets. The castle wasn’t designed for defensive purposes, but for more an aesthetic view. It was nestled against a mountain cliff, and wrapped around it in a semi circle. The inner open section of the castle was the courtyard, while the outer enclosed section served as the main living areas. While many years ago the castle probably had a lovely view overlooking the Kolondros Mountains, over the past centuries the landscape changed and the only view offered were of towering trees.1

At the center of the courtyard was a tower that rose high above the rest of the castle, but from the courtyard there was no visible entrance to this tower. The gardens all around had long become overgrown, but thanks to Gan’s magic he had trimmed and re-grew the flowers and trees. But in these winter months the branches were barren and the falling snow was beginning to cover the desolated flowerbeds.2

Gan and Thoron had just appeared amongst the scene, standing directly in front of one of the teleportation rings that were located around the castle grounds. It was embedded into the stone walkway, and was comprised of six outer stones and one larger stone. The outer stones were engraved with large runes, while the inner stone had one large rune in the center, circled by much smaller runes of magic.3

Gan waved his hand. “< I summon forth the chest from within my home >.” Appearing in front of the two comrades was a large chest, about the size of a small table. Gan knelt down and unlatched it, lifting it’s top. Inside was an assortment of belongings, from clothes to weapons, books to random objects. As one would peer into it, the depths of the chest seemed deeper than it truly appeared. Even Gan’s long magical emerald-topped staff had found its way into the chest, even though it appeared to be larger than the chest.4

“Alright,” Gan said. “Let’s get started.”5

Thoron looked through the chest’s contents with Gan. “What’s first, exactly?”6

“We need to remove one of the outer stones, and the inner stone.” Gan brushed some of the snow off of the Stones.7

“Good luck with that,” Thoron encouraged.8

A light, forced laugh was released. “These stones have been strictly enchanted. My magic cannot move them. Pure, brute force will be the only thing to budge them.” Gan stood, calling upon the Earth magic that dwelled within him. Vines began to grow from between the cracks and rise upwards. They thickened and strengthened, awaiting the next step. In Gan’s early years, magical words and physical movement of the arms and legs were required to perform the simplest of magical tasks. But as his magic rapidly grew more powerful over the years, those actions grew less and less needed. Only in combat where all energy was a precious resource did he use words and movement. “I need you to pull these as hard as you can.9

Thoron nodded in understanding. His body began to change at a very rapid rate. All at once, his mouth extended out into a snout, thick horns grew from his head, his entire body grew to a huge size, and everything was turning a yellow scaly color. Wings sprouted and a tail grew, revealing the massive thunder dragon that Thoron truly was. He beat his wings so hard that he lifted off from the courtyard a little. Then, with his monstrous claws, he gripped the vines that were levitating in the air. Using his dragon-sized muscles to beat his wings down even harder, he lifted into the air. When the vines in his claws extended as far as they could go, they tightened and pulled him back down. This was a signal for him to beat even harder.10

Gan tried his hardest to keep the vines from breaking, pumping them up with the durability of a rock. Finally, the stone began to budge slightly. Another budge, and another, and after that it began to slide out. Gan watched the stone move from the upward force being exerted, and in a split second the stone came soaring out of its place in the ring. But with its release it sent Thoron flying out of control. He quickly regained control of his flight, and dodged out of the way from the hurling stone.11

We need that stone, Thoron! Gan called out with his mind.12

With a nod of recognition, Thoron beat his wings hard, turning himself upwards in the direction of the debris. Fast as lightning he was rapidly sailing through the cold, snowy air, chasing it. Within seconds, even before the stone had begun its descent, Thoron had it in his ivory claws. Gliding back down, he dropped right in front of Gan, where they both examined it.13

The stone was not much larger than two feet in depth, yet it required such struggle to release. Must have been the ice, Thoron suggested. And the magic keeping it in place. They both peered down into area they had just unveiled. The area was bowl shaped, inscribed by runes all around the inside of the bowl, and at the very center was a tiny glowing blue crystal shard; a Laegil shard. It was barely three inches tall and one inch wide, but it glowed with such vibrant, sapphire color.14

That’s one of the coordinate crystals, Gan explained. But before we recalibrate it, we need to do an upgrade on the power. We need to remove the center stone now. With the same method as before they removed the center stone, taking a little more time to do so because it was larger, but nonetheless accomplishing their goal. Setting it next to the smaller one, Thoron and Gan peered down into the center of the ancient device.15

The power source was an orb, glowing a bright yellow. It was the size of a watermelon, and like everything else related to this device it was covered in magical runes.16

Thoron looked more intently at the orb. What do we do with that?17

Gan pulled his cloak tighter to his body for warmth, trying not to think of the cold. We leave it. We’re going to add to it with what we have collected over these past months. Gan stood and leaned over the chest behind them. He reached his numbing hand into it, feeling around. The snow clouds block any and all sunlight that could have helped him find things. 18

Finally, he pulled out a smaller orb, this one the size of a grapefruit and its surface a deep red color. Adding to the first orb was a large green crystal piece, its bottom flat and round and about a foot in diameter, and its top rose about a foot tall as well, jagged and worn. In-between pulls, he blew hot air into his palms, rubbing them together. Thoron noticed it and blew a lightning bolt from his massive mouth at a dead, dry plant. It immediately caught fire. Thanks. The last object Gan retrieved from the chest was the smallest of the three. It was the size of an orange, pure white, and almost seemed to be a giant pearl.19

Finishing his collection, he reached into the backpack he carried around and retrieved the Ma’afel Rock, setting it next to the rest. The aura about it actually made Gan and Thoron feel sad and depressed. 20

Thoron gazed at it intently. Where did you get that? I don’t remember it.21

It’s the Ma’afel Rock. King Arthur just gave it to me. He said it was more powerful than the Eternal Orb. Gan pointed to the giant pearl orb. It will go nicely with our Eternal Orb, the Dwarven Crystal, and Infernal Gem, in addition to the previous power source.22

And how do we go about integrating them together?23

Easy. Like this. He took the collection of the four power sources and situation them around the original power source, making sure they were all the touching it in some way. Once finished, they took one final look at it. All the orbs and crystals were touching the main giant yellow orb, glowing in such a rainbow of colors. Ok, now to set the coordinates. Gan was in a hurry. His rushing wasn’t driven so much by the cold, because he knew where he was going the climate would be similar. No, he was driven by a longing to revisit that old world, but at the same time not wanting to leave behind his love.24

Gan reached into the bowl shaped crevice where the tiny sapphire Laegil shard shone with brilliance. He grabbed it with three fingers, and tugged. It came out easily, and immediately lost its shine. Gan reached under his cloak and shirt, shuddering as his cold hand touched his chest. He retrieved the necklace that contained a similar blue shard; the one Ves gave him when Mathius and Néata left this world for Earth. He unwrapped the string that kept it in place, and the shard dropped into his palm. After he wrapped the old Laegil shard in the string and replaced the necklace under his clothes, he stared at the new Earth-bound shard, contemplating its wonders.25

After a moment of silence, he leaned down and slid the Laegil into the slot. Like a puzzle piece, it fit perfectly, and once connected with the device it began to shine ever brighter.26

Alright, Gan finally said. We’re finished. The Laegil with the Earth coordinates is in place. We just need to replace the cover stones. Thoron returned to human form, and helped Gan lift the center stone, carrying it over to its slot. Even with vines helping them, the stone’s weight was immense. The stone may have come out rough, but it slid back in as if it had been oiled. When they had replaced the second stone, they stood there in the freezing snow. The arctic wind was beginning to pick up.27

“Alright,” Gan said verbally, now that Thoron could speak. “Let’s get this over with before I start having after thoughts.” Without waiting for a response, Gan shut and locked the lid of the chest, and using the same magical vines he moved the chest onto the teleportation device. He checked to make sure his sword hung at his side, and slung the backpack over his shoulders. The fire had already gone out, and the cold was creeping through their bones. Gan retrieved from a side pocket from the backpack a small bracelet, and looked it over. 28

The runes around it matched the runes that lined the outer ring of the device. He matched up the rune on the bracelet with the rune of the stone that had the new Laegil shard under it. “Are you ready?”29

Thoron nodded as he stepped onto the device with Gan and the chest. “I am, Gan. I will always be ready and by your side when you do these crazy things.”30

Gan couldn’t help but force a weak smile, even though his lips cracked and began to bleed. “Thanks.” With a simple press of the finger, he pushed down onto the rune on the bracelet.31

Immediately, white light surrounded them, erasing their previous location from sight. At first, all they felt was a sensation of weightlessness. But as the ancient device attempted to take them somewhere beyond the stars, they began to feel pain. The pain started as a simple prickling feeling, which then turned to needles. Gan reached out and found his best friend’s arms, and they each grasped the other’s forearms. The white light was blinding, and soon Gan could not see anything. He didn’t know if he had just closed his eyes or not; he couldn’t tell.32

The needle feeling transformed into swords stabbing them everywhere. Then it was a burning, and inflammation like nothing they had ever experienced. Finally, after what felt like hours, the burning and stabbing subsided. Gan could feel a warm essence beginning to grow in-between he and his best friend. It wasn’t a harmful essence, rather an very comfortable feeling. Gan began to relish in the growing warm sensation. It calmed him, and he found himself thinking of only nice, decent thoughts. Of times he spent in Calador with Thoron and Avon, and even his old friend Mikou who passed away some time ago. Then he remembered the laughs he had playing Koy-Ko with Piko, Mathius, Néata, and Thoron. Gan felt himself beginning to get lost in those thoughts. Until of course it exploded.33

The warm sensation turned into a bomb, and it burst right in front of he and Thoron. They were ripped apart and flung in opposite directions, but as to where they had landed was a mystery. Finally, Gan landed hard into a pile of sand, and the impact only added to the pain his body was experiencing. And just as he felt his eyes begin working again, the cold returned, and his vision went from white to black.