Something had happened when all of us noticed that one of the researchers was under that rubble. We only prayed everyone was all right.

“Dad!” I called out to my father. Grew concerned with my friends Erica, Orell, and Toby.

“Christa! Where’s Orell and Erica?” He requested as Toby was next to him.

Toby was gripping a rock close by as he was still trying to wipe the dust from his shirt. Orell was still coughing, even trying to fix the glasses he had. Wait, he had glasses the whole time?

“What? I meant to tell you guys!”

“Here…” Toby announced.

“Aghhhh!!!” But Erica screamed as she noticed the smell of blood and saw some spats of it from what had happened before. The death of one of the technicians who handles the archeological digs. Then suddenly, I found out for myself and wanted to vomit.

“Oh my gosh! Don’t look!” I said as I began to try to gasp for air.

“Never mind that. What are we gonna do?!” Erica panicked. Then my dad went and hugged her. I grew a bit shocked but said nothing. “That is the last thing that you need to do is panic. Erica, say that you won’t panic.”

“…I won’t…panic…” She sniffed.

I wanted to cry as it suddenly brought back memories of when Mom and Dad were together. He went off to adventure land, and I was stuck at home, desiring he would stay and bring back stories like he promised he would. After that, things got worse, and he and Mom were divorced at that time.

“After all. We all have to hope things don’t get worse than before anymore, right?” She nodded.

“Good. Then be careful next time.”

“Dad, you owe us a big explanation,” I said as I heard somebody starting to make a call for an emergency.

“THAT ONE is actually what you kids need to tell me about, which was interrupted. But now, I’d rather not talk about it and figure out how to get out from here.”

Suddenly, Sumiko speaks for the first time since the incident.

“This is horrible!” Then she looked at Dr. Richard Malone.

“What are we to do? Professor Harrison…” She couldn’t believe what had transpired. This was where it started.

“Isn’t here. I know. We have to report a fatality. This is a huge mess. We have one minor here. They don’t need to see this.”

For about ten minutes, they didn’t know what else to do. They came up with something in hopes they could reach the outside. They needed to do whatever they could. I hoped.

“Just where in the world does anybody expect me to just—mmm, hmm!” She had her mouth covered by Kochi. Orell narrowed his eyes.

“Be careful!” I warned.

“So what gives?” Kochi speaks after letting Erica go.

“Yeah, man, it’s too warm in here! And we have to mind the situational matters. Can we at least get an estimate?” Orell complains.

“9-1-1 was called, they suggest staying put.” Sumiko pointed out as she held her phone.

“Finally!” Erica screamed. Yet, this only caused another earthquake to happen.

“Girl! What did I—” Kochi was eventually cut off.

“Never mind that, RUN!” Dr. Richard yelled out.

II.

“Has it stopped?”

“When do we stop ERICA from screaming?” Orell spoke sarcastically. This had been a rough thirty minutes, and I couldn’t help but want to chuckle at Orell’s words.

“Enough!” Dad said.

However, I didn’t want to upset Erica, so I decided against it to do it to her. She can be just as sensitive as me. For some reason, I am trying to hold my calm while seeing this for the first time. We were deeper in the cave.

“So, where is the next exit point?” Orell questions. Erica and I started to whimper as we didn’t know what to do or say. But Dad had looked almost confused. Then I suddenly stepped back on something, and it caused the lights to suddenly come through from the light shaking, which caused both of myself and Erica to scream. The boys yelped as everyone else did.

It revealed things about this cave. We saw Bones, Skeletons, and Graves. It was a hidden catacombs.

“OMG! What the heck is this place?! PLEASE, SOMEBODY, Just take me home!” Then Erica suddenly just grabbed me, whipped me around, and started whimpering. “Christa! I didn’t know that your Dad is in this much deep stuff! Now I’m mad! Why didn’t you tell us that this place was a catacomb?!” Erica whines.

“That is what I bet ALL OF US would like to know…” Orell spoke. And I couldn’t have agreed more. I wasn’t trying to go against my dad, but why, oh why, did my dad not say anything?

“Hey! You kids have zero idea what kind of situation this is. This interrogation stuff is getting out of hand.” Then, Dad began to turn around and take out his flashlight. Eying the place. “…And as much this is starting to make sense, believe me when I say.” He continued. “This place—was bound to be something we needed to discover.” Then he turned to the rest of us as Sumiko and the others began to look at the cave itself.

“Since we were all trapped together. This is why I didn’t say anything to you before.” He was speaking to me. I began to feel very bad and guilty about the whole barging in the way I did before. It was just simply this: I hadn’t seen my dad since I was eight years old. What was I supposed to do? He left me thinking that he wasn’t coming back, so now I am forced to figure out what to do in a situation where we’re all stuck in the cave.

“Bullocks! That’s what!” I suddenly found myself thinking. Now, I understand what you meant, Erica. “Now, I think this is about some strange stuff that only you find in movies, and yet this is real! I’m gonna need to find some water.”

Dad nodded.

“That’s the next step. Water.”

Soon, we found water.

However, the water had been translucent, clean, refreshed, and unique. I then began to see why this place was so refreshing. I saw how beautiful it was coming from the waterfall. Streaming down as a small lake and a river right next to it, but it wasn’t so bad. It was very peaceful, tranquil, and life-like. You can smell the fresh water.

“Everybody was drinking soundly…” That is what the book says.

“Dad, don’t tell me your reading of that story again.” I began.

“What story?” Erica questioned.

“The story is about a place called Nova. However, we once thought it was a myth. Its pages entail the details of every map, every corridor, and every place from here to there alone. It’s a fantasy world, to be exact.” Dad ends up explaining.

“Like, what… like a type of Lord of the Rings, or Zelda, or…?” Theodore questioned.

“Both…Maybe almost all of them.” He finishes.

“Oh sh...”

“QUESTION. Now that we know that this place is linked to it in some form or way, HOW do we find our way out? Because if it is anything like that 80s movie Goonies, you sure as heck better find out a way out of here, some treasure to take home, and so we can all get rich quick and speed outta here!” I said in a quick reform. Erica wanted to high-five me, yet I was deadly serious, and so was my Dad.

He shook his head.

“No. NO taking ANYTHING from here.”

I frowned.

“Why not?” Orell asked, and then Dad turned to him.

“Because, unlike the movies, this is more real, and this place is more dangerous. If you try to take anything, you put all of us at risk and endangering your lives. Let’s not forget what happened here.”

All of it has been ruined.

“Dad, the last thing any of us needs is a reminder of it. So, what can we do to avoid anything in particular?”

“We cross the bridge. Just like you said, it is long. It sadly has a lot no different than, yes, sadly, like the movies you saw and been seeing.”

“So what is about this water? It’s very fresh.”

“That’s what it is, now we should be traveling along.”

“But we just got here!” Erica complained.

“I’m sorry, but now, we move forward. Keep going and watch out for traps…” He spoke with some difficulty as he didn’t want to scare most of us out of necessity.

“Traps!?” Everyone asks.

I just shook my head. This situation didn’t seem to make any sense to me at all. Why were we stuck in a place like this, of all things? When did my Dad suddenly start to get involved with such things? Since before my childhood? Before I was born?

“NOW. Should be to get more answers.” I stated in protest.

“NOT, until later. NOW we get ourselves to safety!” Dad barked back and pointed behind us. We all heard a strange crack and turned around, seeing a mega-sized boulder approaching us.

“You gotta be freaking kidding me!” I muttered.

“Oh no…” Erica said.

“RUN!!!” Kochi yelled as we all began running.

“OMG! What else is next!” I can hear Erica scream.

“Nevermind. Let’s just run!” I settled the argument. But this boulder keeps going straight and seems to be following almost the same direction and picking up speed.

“DAD! What’s next!” I asked.

“NEXT, We grab onto anything to the side. Watch your step and let the boulder through!” He said as he grabbed a spike towards the left side. I picked the same, as did Erica. Sumiko, Haru, Orell to the right. Kochi grabbed the left, and then Toby picked the left. But that was too late for Theodore. There were only solid walls.

“Theodore!”

Then, he suddenly was pressed for the edge, and he sprung forward and leaped for the spike that overhung as much as he could, going higher and grabbing the spike. The boulder crashed through it and landed, with him falling equally. Theodore Fairraway is still alive. Everyone gasped and heard groaning from the bottom. There were no spikes or anything to kill him on impact. But he was indeed badly hurt.

“Theo! Are you all right!” Sumiko questioned. She had short hair and was concerned while everyone else was wondering what happened. I turned to Dad.

“Dad, this is wrong. People are—”

“We have to push forward. We have NO CHOICE.” Then, suddenly, they hear Theodore speaking to Sumiko and Haru.

“Dad! Theo is okay!” Everyone sighed in relief.

“Theo! Are you okay down there!” Erica cried out!

“Don’t worry… I’m—alright. Hurry…”

“Now, what do we do?” I questioned Dad.

He sighed as he tried to figure out what else to do next. He looked at the book, as if to try to find something along with it.

“I have another copy. Take the original and keep it hidden. You’re going to need this for yourself, now.” He told me. I looked at the book and began to see a strange map. It was the catacombs itself.

“…The Hidden Catacombs…” It read.

He nodded.

“You got it. Do you see where we are?” He pointed at the map.

“The boulder found its way down to the 3rd level. That is where Theodore is.” Then, I began to look straight at him.

“I don’t know if this would be a smart idea…” I told him.

“You’re just going to have to trust your old man on this one…” Dad replied with a small smile.

Theodore was trapped in the lower level. But still safe. For now. It was Sumiko and the kids he was concerned about. The others, too. But now, with nowhere to go, he thought of his girlfriend back at college, Ringo Takamaru, and his old friend Douji. He was studying in Tokyo, Japan, when this happened. And suddenly, he wanted to be there for her. But things happened, and he came back to the United States to continue his archeology major. That is how he became involved with Professor Malone. Dr. Richard Malone would often call him. But then, he wondered about Christa. He read the book. But almost forgot what it was saying. If everything so far were possible, then that would mean that that world would be in danger here.

CHAPTER 3

3 HOURS EARLIER

“Dad, I’m sorry.”

“No need. I should have been more mindful. But following the book, we should be able to get out of here. We have to think about your friend and all of you.” My desire is this. No more deaths. Getting back home and hopefully be able to tell the tale to the ‘kids’ one day. However, all of us were working towards getting down to the third level and hoping to find a way to handle what would be up ahead. The next thing that would happen would be that we would be able to see where Theodore was. Yet, he was nowhere to be found. He was missing.

“Where is he?”

“Erica, I think right now we need just to find out where he could have gone,” Kochi stated. Haru and Sumiko nodded. Orell decided that she was right. Where did he go? My Dad and I decided to talk while everyone began looking.

“Where is this wall that tells the story?”

“Across the long bridge.” I nodded, and we decided it was time to cross it. It was indeed about a half-hour’s journey’s walk across. We started crossing, and this is where everything began to happen. We all started to wonder what else was on the last two levels. There was told to be a chamber that held something. Threats. These are only a threat if you were there to take anything. However, something else happened that was a complete mystery. To muster up the courage to be able to get inside.

“So now, this is a major turn of events here,” Dad explained.

“Now what?” I asked.

“We need to look at this wall.”And then I did.

Sumiko began to read it:

For centuries and more, the heavens have many mansions, many places, and even realms you may not know. The Novians are akin to humans, but just on another planet. It is close to a time of medieval age, yet its progression halted, and its people and the world became known as near timeless. While they had wars and struggles, King Amaldus had a successor and had to protect the Princess, for she was the only daughter left to preserve Nova’s history.

A man named Aonghus had found the Chosen One.

Before a war broke out, a Hero was said to awaken to defeat that dark lord from below. This dark lord was called The Scourge King. Few awakened; others couldn’t; some did not…

A true Hero must come, as the chosen one had found theirs. He was everything he should become, yet his abilities were stripped, and he nearly died. A newly chosen one would be able to do what the last couldn’t. With the power of their courage, friendship, and love, they would be able to do what the last chosen can do and maybe less.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Not without friends, not without the royal family. “Is this all possible?” The Chosen One had hoped. “Trust in the creator and that nothing like this situation that overran the beautiful land, which was full of peace, would not experience this darkness again.”

TIME would, at some point, be influenced. And the darkness would be pushed back. But then the place had to be sealed. And so The Chosen One grabbed the Key… And so would be this dark lord that she forced— to split in two. Somehow, The Scourge King — he would return and be defeated for good.

They would be known as The Timeless…

“WHOA—” Erica and I ended up saying. This would be a challenge indeed. However, I do believe in God and what he will do in the future. But this is a different story. This was a story about a Chosen One and some medieval place. Straight out of a fictionized book even. But according to the text, this is real. And this happened before.

“Somebody went to that world. But did they come here? And how was this written? Who wrote this? And who are ‘The Timeless’?”

A gun clicked.

“The very people that had given me nightmares.”A male’s voice could be heard.

“People who deserve some peace from evil!” Sumiko cried out in protest.

“Oh, so you really are with them? If only you knew what that place was.” A rugged man came out in a safari outfit, along with about fifteen other men behind him. Sixteen men in total. This guy brought a brigade with him with guns. “That is beyond strange!” We all had our hands up, as many of them had guns pointed at us. But then Dad had the most shocked face out of us all.

“It can’t be…”

“Believe it— Professor! You thought you could get away from taking what had belonged to the both of us. So here we are.”

“WHAT?! No. That belonged to our professor. The one you helped get killed. Had you not touched a single thing, NOBODY would have suffered losses. This was all your fault!” He argued back.

I heard the hurt and anger in his voice. This is why Dad would always say not to touch anything. Since when did this become some battle with words? I suddenly heard a loud gunshot, and Orell was hit in the left leg.

I gasped.

“ORELL!” I screamed out the moment that I heard the gunshot and him yelling in pain. We all were in shock. I couldn’t believe that he had got hurt like this. Then, I began to see the back of me. WHO was this man?!

“Argh! He just shot my leg!” he yelled.

“And that mouth of yours would be next if you keep it up, kid. I am not afraid to kill.” I tried to go and help. But then I was suddenly grabbed by the man that did the damage.

“No, Demetrius!”

I was shocked as I was held hostage. But not just that. The name. The same man that Dad spoke of when I was little. This was the same man?

“Demetrius!?” I spoke in shock. Not the same person Dad spoke to Mom about many years ago before he left and hasn’t returned? Not the same man. No way, no how, that this is the same person that Dad swore he made a big mistake when he ‘left the man behind’.

“Oh, so you didn’t tell your daughter enough details, huh? Well, now I suggest that you hand over the Key also. Because if you don’t, then everyone else is going to suffer. Starting with Kochi.”

Kochi narrowed his eyes.

“Idiot! You think killing me is going to change anything?” Dad looked at them, shocked. “What…?”

Kochi rolled his eyes.

“Demetrius can’t do anything without unlocking the seal.” He muttered.

“What seal?”

“The seal encompasses the transport to Nova. The world beyond our world. They are stuck in time, yet they may or may not age at all. Very few ever make it to age-less. Apparently, they didn’t do enough and tried to send dreams to me. But once I refused, something else showed up. I rebuked the witch! Sefredina assumed she could get away with it.” Demetrius spoke.

“Let her go, Demetrius! She didn’t do anything and has nothing to do with this!”

“Oh, I KNOW she would be the one to handle what I couldn’t. That is why I know she would be the one to help undo it. Unlike your other friend that was with you. Yep. Know about him, too.”

“What did you do!”

“I DID NOTHING. But THEY probably took him.” They? Demetrius wasn’t giving up. But Dad, looking on defeated, had decided to give the Key to him in hopes of my safety. Dad… Then suddenly, he had his men leave only a few to stay behind; the rest would follow to where the seal was located. It took us about two more hours to reach where it was.

It was a massive chamber. We suddenly looked all over and examined it. There were tall statues of knights all over surrounding us, from the ground level to the 8th level encircling. We gasped.

“What is this place?” I mouthed.

“The Chamber!” Demetrius said with glee. We were then allowed to explore some, but Demetrius kept me close with the gun near my neck. My Dad was furious and eyed him.

“You knew about this place…”

“Times are hard. Gotta do something.” Demetrius answered back. But then something else began to happen as Toby had examined a body. It was dead, unmoving, until something showed in its eyes.

“Is that a ruby…?”

“SAAAAAAAA!” It said, and Toby screamed for dear life! We all gasped, and Erica pointed.

“Look!”

Corpses had overrun the place, and they became animated.

“Oh snap! Run!”

But the chamber closed, and we were already trapped. Everybody eventually hid behind the men who had guns. Yet, it was hardly doing anything. Orell took one of the swords and handled them with ease. Their swords were able to defeat them. So then, once the ones that dropped the swords by accident, some of us were able to pick them up and took some of them on. The rest stood behind. I eventually couldn’t do anything, but Demetrius still had attempted to unlock the seal. He had a different piece and connected them together, becoming whole.

He placed the key in the slot, which was the necklace with the pendant attached like a key. And touched on the seal itself. It turned and glowed a dark purple. Oh no. However, once I saw that he did this, I grabbed the key away from the seal, but I accidentally touched the wall itself as it was stuck. The seal kept turning from the other side until it slightly glowed. I was excited — I finally got the key out.

“Christa! What did you do!” I heard my dad say. But then it died down. I just so was excited to get the key back, yet it glowed, not realizing that the seal unleashed itself. And we could hear the undead begin to cry out in pain and succumb to the light that was from the portal that was opened. They were sucked in, as was Demetrius.

“No!” I screamed as suddenly I couldn’t see anyone else anymore. But then it got more intense, and this wind came out of nowhere, and light streams came to surround me and grabbed me.

“Christa!” I heard my Dad say before he grabbed at my arm, trying to not let me go.

“Dad! What is happening?!” I yelled for dear life.

“Hold on!” He said, struggling suddenly. I was yanked backward, and something intense, some type of energy, pulsed and pushed my father back before I was suddenly desperately crying out for him.

“Christa!!!” I can hear my father’s voice in the faraway. And then suddenly, everything turned black.

Sefredina

She was always looking to see if something strange was happening in the land. And on that very day, something did. She was a witch who had some power. She often had sent orcs or monsters out into the land, and Princess Eliana would always send guards to defend the kingdom. Yet, she barely started a war out of fear for her master. Who warned her not to do anything. She had little to no fear of the people themselves, as they were normal human beings. However, over the last few years, things started to take place.

Princess Eliana

Her main interest had always been Varon of the Daskan Forest. The young man was youthful and cheerful yet serious and strong whenever he engaged in battle. She pondered what became of the man when he retired from service. She had long blond hair and green eyes. Her favorite colors have been mangos, peaches, pinks, and reds. She sometimes often wore green, yellows, and even blues. They have been friends for a long time, and she used to have a small crush on him. Though not anymore.

He swore that it couldn’t have happened while he was attracted to her. She was to be with another prince that she didn’t know about. Once he found out, he was somewhat upset but relieved. He only wanted friendship. Yet, he cried. He longed for his own family and didn’t know where to find a wife. Eliana knew it and sighed heavily. She told him that while he didn’t know why he yearned for the Chosen One like the Edinburgh girl, there was no way he could ever be with anyone. It was only a dream.

A heartbeat.

Princess Eliana heard it. Another heartbeat. But this time, it was darker, and she felt it more prominent than the other. Sefredina also heard it, and she wondered where it could have been in the tower of her castle. She occupied it for years, and nobody knew of anything except for Princess Eliana. When she tried to tell her father about it, he swiftly handled it by sending troops over to Aurelia. Yet there would be battles that happened every so often that the townsfolk would often want to disband and run out of Aurelia. Varon couldn’t do anything, no matter how skilled he was. Something was off, and both Princess Eliana and Sefredina noticed. Many years ago, this was proven true when Varon was but fourteen through sixteen years of age. Three years have passed now.

A droplet of water dropped on my face as I stirred and opened my eyes.

“Where am I?” I started to question. I looked around me and then began to see I was in another type of chamber.

“Dad?!! Erica?!! Toby, Orell!” I yelled out, hoping they could hear me. But there was nobody. I was alone. Fear began to strike me. What on earth is this place?! “Where am I now?!”

I looked at my backpack and saw where I could actually be. I found my flashlight, but it nearly broke. The light bulb was still intact, and I tried to reach out to my Dad by my cellphone. I had zero bars, and I couldn’t reach anybody. Signal lost. So much for trying to reach now when it is obvious where I could be. Yet, I didn’t want to think about it. It was strange enough. So, I finally decided to look at the book, Chapter Two.

The Chosen One is said to come to the planet which is now called Nova, meaning “Anew…” a place where the timeless, literally known as ‘The Timeless’ or Novians, are human people. Some have superhuman abilities as well. There are orcs, elf-like people known as Heorians has also come to like the Verenians as they fought for peace and justice in the land. One where they had aided the Chosen One as well as the Chosen Hero from the past. Both The Chosen One and The Chosen Hero are said to be the key to unlocking the hidden treasure of the world. The Sword of Destiny can only be unlocked when the Chosen Hero has gathered all 7 jewels. These jewels can unlock hidden abilities within the hero: to call lightning, to inflict earthquakes, to show light, to heal, etc. But the one who can unlock it is the Chosen One for him through the power of trust, friendship, and courage. But a hidden element needs to be discovered, and yet hasn’t been…

A horse had disturbed me from my reading. Wait a minute. A horse?! That means there is life on the other side of this piece of rock! So I found out through the small opening that a young man with long blond hair in a ponytail and blue eyes was strange and calm. Pale-skinned, he wore a dark forest tunic with brown pants and dark brown boots. He carried a bow and arrow on his back as well as a sword. He was feeding his horse and spoke soothing language to it. Yet, I couldn’t for the life of me understand what language he was saying.

“What language is he speaking, I wonder…” I muttered under my breath. Suddenly, his horse whines and looks towards where I am located, as does the young man. He looked at the areas suspiciously and suddenly as if he was staring right at me. He grabbed something from his pocket. It was a small flute. And suddenly, he started playing a tune to the cave. I suddenly had an urge to step back for some strange reason, and then the whole cave shook.

Oh, fudge.

“Then, as if wondering about what was happening,” I said, pretending to be reading from the book. I made sure to shove as much as I could in my backpack and screamed for my life as I felt the dirt and everything starting to cover me. I heard the man gasp and spoke to me in the language I didn’t understand. I felt him grab my arm and pull me with him out of the cave, and then it collapsed.

“Who are you?!” I asked him.

“I should be asking YOU the same question. What were you doing in there!” He spoke English.

“You speak English?!” I asked in shock, but he still held my arm.

“Novian.” He said matter-of-factly.

“Novian is English?” I questioned in confusion.

“No. I know knowing about ‘En-glish’. Apparently, you speak Novian.” I shook my head.

“No, no, no, no, no. English is not Novian, and Novian can’t be English. It just can’t. I could have sworn you were speaking another language. And that other ‘language’ is, no doubt, Novian. Or whatever it is you’re speaking.” I said in near confusion. This entire thing did. But that melody was soothing, yet it affected my ear drums.

“I was speaking to my horse, no different than speaking to you.” He argued. Forget how handsome the guy was. This scared the crap out of me, and I could have sworn Erica would be gushing over him, even though her crush is actually Toby and Arie. Yet, she kept telling me that Arie was the one who kept looking at me, yet she was very jealous of this. I kept telling her that it was okay and to leave it alone. I wasn’t in the mood for it since Dad was always not there.

“Who are you?” I questioned again. He was shocked at my demand. Besides him looking me over, I felt like showing that I wasn’t afraid. He relented.

“Varon…” He said almost begrudgingly.

“Vaaron?” He shook his head.

“No. Varon. Like ‘air’- and ‘run’. Now, why are you here!” he spoke again, getting almost agitated.

“I don’t know…” I told him truthfully. Yet, he looked at me funny.

“You’re lying.” I shook my head.

“If only I were, which I’m not lying. I just got here, and then I saw you and your horse.” What else was I to tell the guy? I am a college student — attending a university that I had hoped to get into since my other schools were out of the question. I am a Freshman and hope to start out fresh after graduating from high school. I am a psych major and a creative writing minor, and my athletics is track running. I wanted to do archery as well. But that I am hoping to learn soon.

“I already told you, if I haven’t already. I don’t KNOW how I got here.” Varon puffed.

“Just get outta here, already! This place is sacred, and you must know—” Then he gasped when he saw what I was wearing. Short shorts, short sleeve shirt, a dark blue blouse long enough to cover my shorts, unbuttoned. Sneakers, and I gulped as I grabbed the necklace, which was the key.

“The Key…” He muttered.

Scrap this. I ran for my life.

“Wait!” He said as he suddenly attempted to shoot at me with his arrow, and it hit a nearby tree and barely scratched me. I gasped immediately.

“Ogh! This guy is going to kill me!” I screamed for my life and thought about the cave, but it was out of the question. I decided to get away from this guy and fast. Either he deliberately tried not to shoot me on purpose, or it was a warning shot?! Either way, I wasn’t about to find out what he was about!

As I was running away from Varon. He was giving chase. His horse was not too far behind, but I couldn’t at the horse right now.

“Who the heck would chase a girl with a bow and arrow and a sword from the back?!” I yelled out, fuming. Then some more arrows came flying, and I knew it was Varon.

“YOU! Are you with that witch!”

“What witch!? I don’t know anything about a witch! I don’t mess with witches or witchcraft! Get away from me!” I yelled out.

I ran as fast as I could to get away from him, and just when I was about to run out of breath, I could see another person down below the hill. A man, about in his late forties.

“Hey, miss. What is wrong?” A stranger cried out. He was a villager of some kind, and I ran to him and told him.

“Some crazy guy tried to kill me, and he called himself ‘Varon’. That’s what!” This was said with as much attitude as I can say. “You tell that crazy guy that: ‘I don’t care how handsome he thinks he is, he isn’t going to get that arrow going through like that!” I huffed in anger.

“Varon?! Of The Daskan Forest!” Why would he do this? The villager asked in his head. This is not like him.

Then the villager shook his head.

“…How can he…? You’re certain it’s Varon.”

“Yes! I’m certain because he told me in some part of the forest not too far from here! Because this guy wants something from me, and I need help. Please help me!” I begged.

“That place sounds like the Temple… or Sacred Grounds.” He nodded. “All right. Let me handle this; hide in my house.” I did just that, and suddenly, a little boy was there.

“Please hide! There is a man outside. Your Dad told me to hide.” I told the young boy. I guess that this is his son.

“Come with me!” The little boy had said. He grabbed my hand and told me to hide under the floor panels, which had a hidden compartment. I did as he told me. And the little boy stood over me.

Varon came out from the forest, and the man suddenly acted like nothing happened. Varon looked increasingly around, hoping to find her.

“You, sir! I’m sorry to bother you. But have you seen a young woman somewhere?” Varon questioned him.

“My young man. There are plenty of young, beautiful women all around the village. What brings you back to Dannasa, Varon?”

“Dannasa is beautiful, as its people and young women, yes. However, no. There is a woman who isn’t of these parts. Probably none of this land, who escaped from my grasp. I’ve helped her, yet she had something of importance that told me she was a danger. Jacais, do you have an idea?” He frowned.

So did Jacais.

“None of the least. My guess is this one is fast, eh?” He questioned, almost a little too eager. He got upset at himself for saying anything.

“What?” Varon frowned more. “Just by what you saying. Does this one sound like somebody who could be a spy?”

“Well, now. You better find the lass, eh?” He nodded and then sped off, calling for his horse in the meantime. “Your flute actually works really well.”

“Thanks. But I have to find her. If you see her, make sure to call me. Do not tell her that I’m looking for her.”

“Wait. Ye know each other?”

“Not really!”

He sped off on Estella and rushed to get towards the next town. Amythis. The forest was dense, and the last thing he needed was for her to be in the Daskan Forest. Humans can barely last in this forest alone. He knew this because he was human. But a special one. A Novian, unlike regular humans, has stronger abilities.

“Okay, the coast is clear!” I heard the little boy say. He opened the floorboards, and suddenly, I could finally breathe again. Just who was Varon?

“Lass, I have some word for you. If you are not a friend of Varon, I highly suggest you don’t get yourself involved with us.”

“Sir, I am sorry. I didn’t attempt to try to cause harm. If you let me explain, I’ll tell you what happened.” So I explained to the older man. From how I got here to who I was, etc. He didn’t know what else to explain with it, and it was getting to be a lot for him to take in. He was holding his head and rubbing his temples.

“You mean, you’re not an enemy?”

I nodded.

“I don’t know anything about a witch.”

“Sefredina. A witch who leaves ruin in her wake whenever she feels like it. She lives in a tower part of the castle of Aurelia. Castle Aurelia was once a peaceful castle, and so were its people. However, many eons ago, it was overtaken by The Scourge King, who wanted revenge after they helped the Chosen Hero and Lady Edinburgh defeat him. So, it is written that The Scourge King would be bound for over 400 years. Until the seal of Nova would be broken. And a new Chosen Hero would soon emerge from the land, and the Chosen One would hail from another world. She will help him in his adventures and quests and save both worlds from terror.” He finished.

“That was an interesting story, Dad.”

“This isn’t just a story, son. This is real.”

But I had no idea who this man and his son was.

“I’m sorry. Who are you two again?” I questioned.

“My name is Jacais. This is my son, Ancian.” Ancian was about twelve years of age. I figured that he could explain to me what to do at his age.

The older man, Jacais, turned to me.

“Ancian. Make sure to give our guest a welcome. I’ll handle it with Varon. He can be brash at times for his age. I am saddened. I would think he would have married by now. But he has claimed that he has more adventures to go on and probably won’t settle until twenty-five.”

I frowned.

“Who is Varon?”

“He is a hero of his own.”

Ilhard. Gylan and Hames.

That is the name of the man who came and spoke to Jacais and Ancian. Falgoria was where Gylan came from. He was a man in his thirties who came from there. When I showed them the book, they began to understand it.

“For starters, you’re going to have to understand this map.” This big map covered only the Verenian Land. “

“You have the Land of Verenia. That is the key map you should be looking at besides the Daskan Forest map. These are the only maps you need right now. Right here is Dannasa. Across the bridge is the Daskan Temple and Village. You came from the temple area.” Ilhard spoke.

“So where would I need to go in order to find other people?”

“Watch out for the villagers of the Daskans. They are small people that are very young. Near Drawf like. Yet they do not take too kindly to strangers. At the same time, there are very few humans who also live there.”

“Ilhard. What am I to do if I encounter Varon?” I asked.

“Just tell him that you’re sorry.” I shook my head.

“That guy wanted me dead, remember?” Gylan then said something. He was in his forties.

“Then remember one thing you have said, lassy, and that is beauty. As much as I love Varon, I do think there is a misunderstanding. Which means he is going to have to figure it out. I do not like this situation either. But this key is the Key to Nova. This means you better not have it brandished around like that. Keep yourself hidden. Matter of fact. Make it to Daska. And let them know your situation.”

“Not without protection, though,” Jacais stated.

Ilhard, Gylan, and Hames agreed.

“That is why we are escorting you over there ourselves. No payment is needed. This is a situation of importance. And saving the world.”

The Daskan forest was nearly fantastical if you were to call it that. But it was a beautiful forest that was real. Fireflies were all around. And we made our way to see the Daskans.

Ernard was the leader. He was about twelve years old, as they don’t age. None of the Daskans do. The only ones are the normal humans. Very few ever get picked to become timeless. But the Daskans were created to be like that. They grow and stop at the age of twelve. There were some slime monsters that Gylan defeated. But it wasn’t so easy.

“What the heck was that!?” I screamed.

“Slime — That is what they are called.”

“So what is anyone to do now that they are around? What did the King say?” Hames spoke. But Gylan shrugged. It was a matter of understanding what was happening is what was stated afterwards.

“What was happening?” I questioned.

“Hmm. Should we really explain? I don’t think this would be a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“Because these are just rumors. And you just so happen to have gotten here. If anything you hear, make sure you question the state of the monster rumors.” I raised a brow. This was not your normal conversation here. We were all talking about Kings, Princesses, Knights, Sir Varon, Monsters, a witch, etc.

“How did this happen, though?”

Again, Gylan shrugged. But Hames knew.

“This may have come from a witch named Sefredina. She is cunning and works for the darkness. However, nobody knows what her true intentions are, but she is always trying to cause a problem. And Varon had stepped in many years ago in battle. However, after what he found out, he vanished and never returned back. Claimed that he had to leave the army. So they offered a bigger bonus for him, but he said no. Out of moral obligation.”

“So now, what is anybody to do if he wasn’t around?” I asked.

“Step up the army’s standards without breaking them. Though they had to do something without psychologically burning them out.”