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Welcome to Scintillious, which can only be entered through a magical book |
| [Introduction]
The world of Scintillious exists only through an ancient, magical book. It is a parellel universe to our own world, so if one of them fails, so does the other. Scintillious is a world of everyone's best dreams and worst fears. Fairies, dragons, elves, sorcerers, trolls, dwarves, etc. dwell in this world. Every century, 7 people with magical potential are picked to enter this realm, however, if they do not enter it thorugh this magical book by a certain time they may not enter. This is the year that the portal is open and 7 lucky people are being called forth to fulfill their destiny... We would like a character bio, so that everyone can get an idea of who you are. Name: Age: Race: Appearance: Skills: |
| Name:Zephanie Lee Age:18 Race:Wizard Appearance:I have saphire blue eyes and long blonde hair. There are freckles that cross over my nose and my cheeks. My eyelashes are dark and long and my lips are charming. I am tall and thin with golden skin. I wear black pants and shirt with a dark purple traveling cloak for, of course, travel. Skills: In the human world it began with simple tricks such as bewitching people or enchanting objects to pull pranks. Once in the world of Scintillious more knowledge of the magic and powers is learned. Can sword fight, but can't fist fight and is really bad at elemental magic. |
| Name: Awen Dreir Race: Elf Age: 17 Apperance: I have light skin, but underneath the sun, I turn a pleasing nut brown. My hair is long and black, and I often wear it in a braid down my back. I dress in simple men's clothing because it is easier to move in and work in. However, I will acquire my own armor specially made from dragon scales that is flexible and easy to move in. I is short, about 5'4", and thin. Skills: Elves are always very powerful magicians, but due to their connection with Nature, they are much more skilled in earth magic. On Earth, I am only gifted with making plants grow well and quickly, as well as making herbal remedies. In Scintillious, I will learn the full potential of my magical abilities, above all, with earth magic. I am also skilled with a bow and arrow and adequate with a sword. |
| Awen sat staring glumly out of the kitchen window. It was late in the afternoon and snow was lightly falling. She anxiously anticipated the arrival of the mail, and with it, hopefully a college acceptance letter. Suddenly, movement down by the road caught her eye. Between the lean aspen trees, she was able to make out the form of the mailman carrying a small brown package under one arm, and a shovel under the other. He ran as if he feared being seen: back hunched, weaving through the trees, and staring over his shoulder every couple seconds. Awen's interest was immediately sparked. Awen decided to stay in the warmth of her house until he had left, and then seek out what it was he had been doing. He disappeared in the cover of the forest. Half an hour later, he crept through the trees, carrying only the shovel. When Awen was sure that he had left the vicinity, she threw a jacket and gloves on and went down to where she believed he had gone. After searching for a couple minutes, she found an area of snow that had been dug up and mixed with dirt. Awen drew her gardening travel from her coat pocket and began to dig. It was a long and tedious work, but after a while, she reached the brown package, burried a couple feet beneath the frozen earth. She stuffed it down the front of her jacket and hastily filled the hole up with snow. Awen waited to unwrap the mysterious package until she was alone in her bedroom. When finally she peeled off the stiff brown paper, she gasped at what lay inside. Folded tenderly in a velvet cloth was an ancient looking book. The cover sparkled green when she touched it. On it, in glittering letters, was written a single word: Scintillious. She hesitated before opening it. What could possibly lay inside the pages stained yellow from age? Awen took a deep breath and flipped it open to the first page. It read, "Welcome to Scintillious." Puzzled, she turned to the next page, which read, "There are many people on Earth who are inclined towards different types of magic. But, only those have these inclinations and truly have something to offer the world of Scintillious may enter. Every one hundred years, only the seven most worthy candidates may enter Scintillious. This is the year." Thoughts raced through Awen's mind. There was something uncanny about this book like no other she had read before. Its words, as fantastical as they seemed, sounded true to her ears. And the book called to her. "What is it?" Zephanie's voice sounded irritated. "Zeph, you'll never believe what I just found. Some man burried a magical book in my back yard...you need to come over! It's the most wonderful thing I have ever beheld-" "Slow down, Awen. Magical books don't exist," Zephanie said. "Magic doesn't exist." A feeling deep down in her gut wanted to contradict what she had said, but Zephanie dismissed the feeling. "Please just come over and check it out. Once you see it and touch it, you will believe me. I swear." Zephanie sighed. She had nothing better to do and Awen was her best friend, as strange as she was. What did she have to lose? "Okay, fine. Should I bring my wand as well?" "Shut up," replied Awen, cathcing Zephanie's sarcasm. "I'll see you in twenty minutes...and Zeph? You won't tell anyone, right?" "And make people think that we're crazy? Not a chance. See you then." She hung up. Awen grinned. After all of their years growing up together and believing in fairies and magic, she was finally going to prove to Zephanie (who had began to dismiss those things as figments of a child's immagination) wrong. This book had to be magical. What would make its cover sparkle. And those words...She resolved to read more of the book when Zephanie arrived. |
| "Lucy, I'm going over to Awen's house!" Zephanie shouted through the house to her foster mother. Lucy never cared where she went, but Zephanie hoped the message would get to her caring foster father, Mike. "I'll be back tomorrow." Zephanie climbed onto her five-speed mountain bike and peddled fast up the hill. It was a windy mountain road that she and Aen lived on, but without any breeze it was slightly warmer and easier to travel through the snow. "Zeph! Finally, you're here," Awen called out to Zephanie from her porch. A thick volume sat beside her. "Is that it?" Zephanie touched it with curiosity and the title was illuminated with an eery sapphire glow. "Wow." "That's odd," Awen said almost to herself. "I could have sworn it was green earlier." Zephanie took her hands from the book and Awen picked it up. The word lit up in a bright tree green. An identical look of shock showed upon the girls' faces. Awen stood up with the book and carried it to the nearby table. "Well?" Zephanie sat next to Awen. "Have you read it yet?" "Not really. I was waiting for you. You never know how dangerous it might be," Awen replied to Zephanie's give-me-a-break look. Zephanie slid the leather bound book in front of herself and opened the book. The pages were crisp with age, but not tattered or worn. 'Welcome to Scintillious' was written in black, bold letters on the first page. Zephanie flipped the pages until the 'Introduction' appeared. Awen gasped as she saw the first words. "You are about to enter a magical world. . ." Awen read aloud. "Ssh. Read in your head," Zephanie snapped. She couldn't believe she rode her bike up in the snow to read a fairy tale book. They both were silent as they read the introduction. -----You are about to enter a magical world that only opens once a century. If you can read this, then you have been hand-picked to enter this world because of your magical abilities. Through this book you will find your fate, your destiny that is woven in another world and different lives. Your wildest dreams shall become reality now.------------------------- "Could you read it?" Awen asked Zephanie intrigued. "Of course I can,"Zephanie replied leaning back in her chair. "It's a book of fairy talkes for children, nothing more." "Then why did someone bury it in the woods? My woods?" Awen asked loudly. She grabbed the book and pointed to the last line. "Read this with me." Zephanie flattened the pages with her fingertips then read aloud with Awen, "Your wildest dreams shall become reality now." |
| Name: Flaeros Delcamper Age: 19 Race: Wingly Appearance: I am six feet tall and I have an average build. I have light tan toned skin and light brown long hair I keep in a low pony tail. I have a large scar on my back extending from my right shoulder blade to my left hip from an accident in my childhood. I have grey eyes that most hate to stare at. Some say it seems more like Im looking through them and not at them. Skills: As a wingly, I could not bring my wings to the surface in the human world. I had not the skill, the most I could do is summon a small breeze of wind in a small area. In Scintillious I learn to bring out my wings and I learn how to manipulate the air itself. ----------------------- "Pay attention," Flaeros's tutor said throwing her pencil at his head, "Your lack of focus is why Im here, isnt it?" Flaeros's attention was brought to her, he had been in all the same classes with her since 1st grade and never talked to her. He barly ever talked to anyone. She signed up to tutor someone and his parents signed him up to get tutored. She didnt recognize him when they first started, until he said that they were in the same class until she graduated. "You should have graduated with me right? Well if you dont focus you're not going to grauate at all," was the first thing she said when he brought it up. "Hey!" Her voice brought his mind back to the table, "See what I mean? I dont know why you're even here." "Me neither, I already know this," he said staring at her. "Well, obviously you dont if this is what your parents said got you held back your senior year. I even had a hard time with this, and would you stop staring at me!? Your eyes creep me out," he smiled, they had that effect on everyone, "I dont know where they come from," she started rambling again, "Your dad has blue eyes and so does your mom, how in the world did you get grey eyes?" "Well, our two hours are up," Flaeros said standing up, "I will show you to the door." "That's one thing you can focus on, the time left for the session to be over," she said with a slight smile and what looked to be a look of relief. "See you next week then," he said closing the door behind her. He walked back in the kitchen and saw a book on the table, "she must have left this," he said picking it up. It was a strange book, Flaeros didnt know that she liked this kind of stuff. The book had a blue shine to it. He felt the ingraved letters on it. Reading the one word it said: Scintillious |
| Name: Serenity Kyle Age:18 Race: Water nymph Appearance: I have Strawberry-blonde hair and dark green eyes- that is, until my skills are unlocked in Scintillious (as I learn of my abilities and how to use them, my hair changes into a light blue, my eyes become sapphire, and my skin gets a pearly gloss to it). My pants and top are made of something that resembles snake skin and I wear black boots. Skills: Although I am most powerful in and around water, I can still hold my own on land. My nails are sharp and if they penetrate the skin, they can release a toxin into ones blood stream; paralyzing them for quite some time. Also, I have in my possessions a triton staff made from a strong metal (each of the tree tips are dangerously sharp) and a starfish hair pin that doubles into a throwing star. …………………… Serenity broke surface and took a deep breath before diving pack down into the warm water. Swimming seemed to be the only thing left in her life that was really hers. She was the best on the schools swim team but that didn’t matter to her. Since her parents began their bitter divorce, things had become a living nightmare for Serenity. The only thing that made sense was the water. That’s where she could escape her parents constant bickering and bringing her into their battles just so they could hurt one another. Yet swim practice only lasted a few hours and that was hardly enough time for Serenity. As her coach blew the whistle and called it a day, Serenity lagged behind her teammates to stay in the water a bit longer but eventually her coach made her get out. Even though it was cold outside Serenity didn’t bother to dry her hair. After putting on her sweat pants and warm sweater, along with her brown boots, hat, and jacket, Serenity grabbed her bag full of practice gear and books and made her way out of the school. “See you Jim.” Serenity called to one of the school janitors. “Yea, see ya. Don’t go growing fins over the weekend you hear?” He teased as he stopped to blow his nose on an old rag. “Sure.” Serenity smiled and shook her head. “So long as you take some vitamin C.” The two waved and Serenity stepped out into the cold air. Her hair began to freeze since it was still pretty wet. Serenity watched her breath as she walked down the streets to her grandmothers house where she decided to stay till the end of the year. A car sped by and Serenity noted that she knew who it was. Her older brother had dated the woman a few years back when they were both still in school. It hadn’t ended well; that’s probably why she didn’t wave to her. “Your book!” A voice called out. Serenity turned and saw a guy a glimpse of a guy before the two of them collided into one another. “Ouch!” Serenity called as a thick book hit her on the head and landed in her lap. “Sorry.” She said as the two fumbled to get up. Serenity grabbed the book and stood up. She looked closer at the guy and vaguely recognized him. A lot of girls complained about him… actually, they complained about how he looked at them. He looked at her and nodded. “I was trying to return that book to my tutor.” Though his eyes held an odd gaze with hers, as though she were made of glass and just barely noticeable, they didn’t really affect her. She looked back at her brothers ex as she drove away then looked back at the guy. “Her?” She asked. He nodded. “Funny…” She said as she looked down at the book. “I wouldn’t picture her opening this big of a book. She’s more of a light reader type of person if you know what I mean.” Serenity flipped the book over and studied the cover. Scintillious it read… seeming to call her just as the waters did. “You’ve got a cut on your head.” The guy said. Serenity looked up at him then touched her head and found he was right. “Do you think I could have a Band-Aid?” She asked with a smile. |
| Name: Erain Thiel Age: 17 Race: Human; Dragoneer Appearance: When you see me, you immediately notice a head of messy dark brown hair. I'm skinny and pale so I look weaker than I actually am. My eyes are a calm blue-green, but change depending on my mood ranging from vague blue-grey to intense gold. When I become linked to a dragon, my eyes actually flash redish-bronze tints. Skills: My blood is no help to me on earth, where I am plagued every night by vivid dragon dreams—from talking to dragons to being a dragon. I thus logically conclude that I am unexplainably obsessed with dragons. In Scintillious, however, I discover new powers inside me... beginning with sensing dragons and telepathic linkage with dragons. I have a natural affinity to all magical creatures, but a natural aversion to all wizards, mages, and sorcerers. |
| Name:frank garcia Age:17 Race:earth and fire elemental Appearance:Dark brown hair with a tint of red at the tips, deep green eyes, not muscular but not fat eather average height the only thing that really stands out are his eyes no one in the world has the same shade of eyes not even his parents wich everyone finds strange. Skills:control over anything that has to do with nature, also has controll over fire out of Scintillious the most he can do is light candles and small stuff like that but in Scintillious he has the potential to destroy whole mountans create massive forest fires.... but he would never do anything like that ------------------------------------------------- *sorry but i have to keep this short im nit even suppost to be on right now =:)* frank was in his usuall spot in the forest when he saw a book that wasnt there a second ago usually he would have ignored this but something about the book was calling to him he picked it up and .... |
| Name: Maya Shadowhaven Age: 18 Race: Shape-Shifter Appearance: I have short blue-black curls that I keep under a baseball cap or bandana. My eyes are tilted at the ends and are as dark as night (they turn multi-hued in Scintillious). I’m average height with skin the color of cinnamon. Slightly overweight (curvy) I appear soft but am much stronger than meets the eye. Skills: Heightened senses and a strange ability to attract animals are the only gifts I can use in the human world. But once I’m in Scintillious I can transform into any animal or creature. The full scope of transforming grants me a great knowledge of the different races and how they interact. Skilled at hunting/tracking and adequate with most weapons, I prefer hand-to-hand combat. _________________________________________________ Her hand firmly gripping the handle, Maya shut her bedroom door with the barest of clicks. Annoyed, she walked over to her stereo and turned the volume up so the music would drown out the yelling from downstairs. Her aunt and uncle’s weekly fights were becoming a daily occurrence; if they didn’t stop soon she was going to ground her teeth to dust from sheer frustration. The snow was falling heavily on the trees outside. Pacing back and forth on the worn blue carpet, Maya gazed outside her window with longing. She wanted nothing more than to run through the white powder and feel the cold air against her face. Being locked inside for so long made her feel trapped in her own skin. At least out there she could be free. The sound of breaking glass rang through the bedroom’s thin walls. “Screw this,” she mumbled under her breath, grabbed her thick coat and baseball cap, and headed out the window. An agile climber, she made it down from her second story balcony to the ground without difficulty. Maya trudged through the snow with no particular place in mind. Lost in thought, she did notice anyone behind her until she felt a whoosh of air fly past her ear. A misfired snowball lay at her feet. “Hey!” she shouted as she swung around to face her attacker. Across the street stood Erain Thiel, her next door neighbor and science partner, with snow in his hand and a wicked grin on his face. “Bet you can’t dodge the next one,” he challenged. “You’re on,” she shouted back and made a mad dash for the woods. She laughed in pure joy as she ran as fast as her legs would carry her. Maya zigzagged through the big aspen trees while snowballs bombed on the back of her heels. She could sense Erain gaining on her and tried to look for cover. Making a sharp left, she leaped over a fallen log, ducked under a tree branch and nearly crashed into a hunched-over guy with a book. With quick action, she was able to avoid smashing into Book Boy, but Erain wasn’t so lucky. Both went tumbling towards the ground, hands and limbs flying, and the book goes sailing in the air. On reflex Maya was able to catch it before it hit the snow. The unnatural emerald cover of the book felt strange in her hands as she trace the lettering of ‘Scintillious’ with the tip of her finger. A small voice inside compelled her to open the book and read its words. She was just turning to the first page when Book Boy grabbed it from her hands and hugged it to his chest. “That’s mine.” A veil of red descended before her eyes with a burst of anger she never felt before. Maya took a menacing step forward and growled. |
| The action was much less back at Flaeros' house. he sat on the floor with a math book on his lap and a pencil in his hand. Zephanie sat on the couch behind him with the remote control in her hand. "Is this right?" Flaeros asked, handing Zephanie his notebook. With no more than a blance, she handed it back. "All you have to do is distribute," Zephanie explained, annoyed. "I have no idea where you got these numbers. Five times three is fifteen, not eight." "Oh, you multiply them?" Flaeros said as he erased his work. "How 'bout we go do this in Lener's Forest," Zepahnie clicked the television off and stood up. "It's snowing out," Flaeros commented with a know-it-all tone. "Dress warm." Zephanie threw the blue winter coat at Flaeros, and then put on her own deep purple one. Reluctantly, Flaeros stood up and followed Zephanie outside. It was lightly snowing, but the trees were piled with snow. As they drew closer to the forest, they heard voices yelling and arguing. "I guess you weren't the only crazy person to want to walk in the snow," Flaeros smirked at Zephanie and was quickly hit with a snowball. "Ha, ha. Listen," Zephanie quieted any further remarks so they could hear what was going on. "It's just a stupid book!" a boy was shouting. "No, it's not! It is a magical book!" a girl was shouting back, as the boy wiped some snow off a book. "Shut up! That's my book!" Zephanie and Flaeros watched this speaker jump down from a tree. It was Awen. "No, I found it," the boy with dark brown was still clutching the book. "What's all the noise in here?" Serenity just walked up behind Zephanie and Flaeros. "I can hear you people from my house!" "Something about a stupid book," a boy spoke quietly. "Hey, aren't you Erain?" Zephanie asked. "And Mia?" "Maya, actually," Maya replied as Erain nodded at the mention of his name. "Who are you?" Serenity spoke to the boy clutching the book. "I've never seen you at our school." "My name is Frank. I just moved here." A silence followed his words. "So, what's so special about this book?" Erain asked. Awen picked it swiftly from Frank's hands and opened it. "Everyone gather in," she said with a tone so intriguing and mysterious that they were soon in a tight-knit cirlcle surrounding her. "All I know that this is not a normal book, there is something powerful and magical about it; otherworldly, if you will. Let's see what it's about together; I've only gotten through the first couple pages." |
| Awen began to read aloud the book's contents, just as she had for Zephanie a couple days back. It was strange how the book had disappeared and then magically reappeared when she thought of it, as if fate willed it to be so. "You are about to enter a magical world that only opens once a century. If you can read this, then you have been hand-picked to enter this world because of your magical abilities. Through this book you will find your fate, your destiny that is woven in another world and different lives. Your wildest dreams shall become reality now." "What's there is small, fine print at the bottom?" asked Serenity, pointing to the text below what Awen had just read. "It's in some other language..." muttered Maya, staring at it intently. All seven of them began to sound out the mysterious looking words together. Their pronunciations were exactly the same, "Andas latii murher bushoit venin." Without warning, the world began to spin, becoming a bright array of colors and blurred shapes. The strange sensation of twirling overcame each person and seemed to last for a second, for eternity. Then, each person's vision began to come back slowly, until each realized that they were sitting precisely as they had been, but were not in the middle of a forest. They were sitting in the midst of a field of a meadow clearing, redolent with the perfume of wildflowers. "What the--" Zephanie gasped. "The book--it said we would go to another realm...Oh my God, what do we do?!" Awen wasn't listening, but spinning a stem of a goldenrod flower between her fingers. "It's so beautiful," she murmured. "Nothing like the ones back home. It would make such a gorgeous crown-wreath." She placed it on the top of her head and grinned. Zephanie stiffled a scream as she pointed shakily to Awen's head. The single goldenrod flower had grown and twisted until it had formed a perfect crown of blossoms to fit around Awen's head. "That's unusual," noted Awen. "Never happened like that before." "What do you mean 'like that'?" demanded Zephanie, staring at her intently. |
| Serenity blinked a few times, half expecting to wake up from a dream. Serenity knew everyone here only by their faces. Except for a couple, no one had ever spoken with one another in or outside of school excluding a word here and there. While everyone was freaking out over what had just happed with Awen, Serenity was more concerned with something else. “Guys… how are we supposed to get home?” Everyone stopped talking at the same time and stared at her. She blushed, not liking so many eyes on her. One of the guys with dark brown hair got up from his spot and went for the book. “Give it here.” He insisted. Serenity thought his name was Frank or something like that. “If you hadn’t of taken it from me, we wouldn’t be in this mess!” “Don’t blame this on us!” The girl with long blonde hair and freckles protested. “You said the magic words too.” “Magic… this book…” Awen looked at the book and felt the crown of flowers on her head. “We-” “We need to get rid of it so we can go home.” Nearly everyone began to talk over one another again. It was getting on Serenity’s nerves. She crossed her arms like she often did when trying to restrain herself. “Quiet!” Serenity said sternly, just loud enough for everyone to hear. Everyone paused again and looked at her. “Look, frank, right?” He nodded. “Well, I doubt getting rid of the book would get us home. After all, it’s what got us here in the first place.” “Who are you anyway?” He snapped at her. Everyone was on edge because of that book. “Serenity Kyle. I’m part of the swim team.” She said “Fish girl?” He teased. “Please, like you know anything other than how to hold your breath a long time. Serenity’s heart sank. She hadn’t been called that to her face since Jr. High. She had hoped people had forgotten about it. “I’ll let that one slide considering the fact we’re all probably major stressed out right now.” Even though the truth was she wanted to slug him a good one in the arm. “Can we at least introduce ourselves before we cut each others throats?” She asked sincerely. She hated not knowing everyone’s names. “I’m Zephanie and this is Awen.” The freckled girl said, pointing to her friend with braided hair. “Frank Garcia.” He finally admitted. The girl with a baseball cap raised her hand slightly for people to notice her. “Maya Shadowhaven.” “I’m Erain Thiel.” The girl with messy brown hair said. “Flaeros.” The other guy said. Serenity could tell it’d be hard to get much more out of him “Now then,” Frank added. “I still say we get rid of the book. Let’s torch the thing.” He said as he pointed at the book. Just then, a small flame appeared on the tip of his finger. “What the-” Frank shook his hand until the flame went out. “Okay, that’s it. What’s going on. I couldn’t ever…” He trailed off as he felt all eyes on him. “What?” Zephanie asked. For a moment he didn’t answer. “Alright… I used to be able to get a candle to light without using a lighter or anything.” Awen looked at him with wide eyes. “I can make plants grow quickly and more healthy than they normally would.” Everyone looked around at one another. Finally, Frank asked half teasingly, “Anyone else got any weird gifts they wanna admit to having?” |
| Maya took the baseball cap off her head as she stared at the group in wonder. Somehow they all had left the forest and ended up in a field of flowers in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. A large part of her thought she was simply dreaming, knocked unconscious from a stray snowball to the head. But it was hard to dismiss the soft earth beneath her fingers or the breeze flowing through her short curls. She pinched herself to just make sure she was completely losing it. Unfortunately, the pain radiating up her arm was all too real. Silence stretched among them after Frank dropped the atomic bomb of all questions. The scent of fear and fresh wildflowers assaulted her nostrils as everyone looked at one another warily. The last thing anyone wanted to do was admit they were freaks of nature. "Well?" Frank asked testily, the quiet was starting to make people nervous. "Zephanie can enchant people," The girl with the green thumb piped up. "Awen!" Zephanie whispered harshly with the look of murder blazing in her eyes. "What? You know it's true, Zeph." Awen scanned the rest of the group. "Anyone else?" One by one, the grouped revealed their talents; Serenity and water, Erain and the dragon dreams, Flaeros and wind. Ever so slowly they made their way around to her. Maya closed her eyes and wished she could just disappear. She didn't want to tell them about the animals or her weird senses that caused many of the fights between her aunt and uncle. Instead, she thought of the hawk she liked to watch fly outside her window back home. Subconsciously, she raised her knees to her chest and rested her forehead there, trying to block out the world. She would give anything to able to fly up out of the meadow right then. The muscles in her body began to relax and shift. Alarmingly, Maya could also feel her senses start to dim. The smell of the flowers wasn’t so potent and the heat of the sun on the back of her neck didn’t feel warm anymore. How odd, she thought, that’s never happened before. "Maya? Maya!" She thought she heard Serenity shout, but the voice sounded distance to her ears. Maya tried to answer but couldn't get the words to come out of her mouth. Tingling sensations ran all through her body like a thousand tiny needles piercing her skin. Suddenly, she lost sight of everyone as the bones in her face began to narrow and her arms start to form wings. What the hell was happening to her? |
| They all stared up at the hawk. It was gigantic. The yellow eyes stared down at them from over a dangerous yellow beak. The winged animal looked as scared as Maya would have been. An unworldly screech came from the bird and was echoed by several screams down on the ground. "Somebody help her!" Serenity shouted. Her plea was more aimed at the boys than the girls. "Maya! If you can hear me just try to calm down!" Awen was shouting through cupped hands into the sky. The more scared that Maya became the further she flew into the sky. "Well, at least we know what her powers our," Zephanie joked. Awen gave her a wry look then walked over to Flaeros. "Flaeros, can you do anything? Or, Frank?" Awen was worried about Maya as she grew smaller and smaller. "What if I bring a strong wind around? She won't be able to fly if the wind is too strong," Flaeros suggested. "Would she get hurt?" Serenity asked. All of them were huddled in a circle under where Maya flew. They looked up at her from time to time as they discussed their plan of action. "I'll catch her," Zephanie said. "Be serious, will you?" Frank retorted and started talking of another plan. "No. Really, I can do it if she falls." The plan was agreed to. "Okay, everyone ready?" Flaeros asked as he took a wide stance and a deep breath. "I have never done anything this big before." Flaeros rose his arms into the sky. Everyone was staring into the sky, watching Maya's hawk form intensely. Zephanie stared at the line in his brow while he concentrated so much. "Awen, look at Flaeros," she pointed. "It looks like he does this a lot." Awen put her finger to her lips then to the sky as the wind picked it up. It was sudden and powerful. The hair on everybody's head was flying about in the wind and the air on their arms stood up with awe. Flaeros stood still as a statue. Not one part of his clothing was moved, and not one hair. "Here she comes!" Serenity warned everybody. We watched as Maya flew down fast in a dive towards the ground. Her eyes looked as though she was panicking. Everyone held out their arms in case she would suddenly plummet. Instead, she landed lightly on Flaeros' shoulder. "Maya, are okay?" Awen ran over to her and questioned. Everyone let go the breath they had been holding. "I know you can't speak Maya, but if you can hear me try to imagine yourself a person," Zephanie stood in front of the bird. "Try to feel your feet on the ground. Smell the flowers, the sweet smell of the flowers. Feel the clothes on your body and the lips and ears that you have." "Maybe she doesn't know how to switch back," Erain said. He had been quiet throughout the whole ordeal. "Just like Flaeros can't turn off the wind." As Erain said it everyone noticed it. The wind was very strong and cold. Clouds were beginning to roll in due to the wind's pull. "We should find some shelter," Awen suggested. "Yeah, maybe a cave," Erain suggested. "I don't care if it is a hole in the ground, but this wind is so cold," Zephanie pulled her purple collar up around her face as the wind grew worse. "Sorry about this guys. I didn't realize I didn't know how to stop it," Flaeros apologized as he came out of his stupor. Everyone shrugged it off. "Well, Zephanie. Can't you do anything about it?" Awen asked. "How?" "When we found the book I was glancing at what we could be due to our magical abilities. And, I am an elf. But, you are a wizard," Awen paused to let this sink in. "I'll bet if you tried you could do something." "Maybe I am a wizard. Or maybe I am a freezing human being who just wants some shelter," Zephanie replied bitterly. "She hasn't really warmed up to the fact that magic exists," Awen explained Zephanie's behavior. "But I have." Awen knelt down to the ground and put both hands flat upon it. The mark of concentration was upon her and a green mist surrounded her. A mound began to grow from the ground. Everyone looked at her and her creation in amazement. |
| The castle was nothing like the crown of flowers that Awen had made earlier that day. Although the structure was made only of vegetation, it was very sturdy and amazing to look at. The castle continued to grow larger and larger, bigger than anyone thought possible for a mere couple of plants to create. "Awen, you can stop now, it is much too big as it is..." Zephanie began to say. "I can't stop, Zeph. I just pictured Karlstejn castle and the plants began to grow...I don't think they will stop until it is the precise image of the castle!" "Don't be ridiculous!" Zephanie said. "Stop!" The second the words escaped Zephanie's mouth, the assortment of plants stopped growing and forming the walls of the castle. Everyone stared at her. Awen had told everyone that Zephanie could enchant people, but control what things do-that was a concept difficult to grasp. "What the--?" said Flaeros. "What happened?" the quiet Erain asked Awen. "Zephanie didn't make the plants stop growing with her powers," Awen began. "She literally commanded me to stop, and I had to." She turned to Zephanie. "Zeph, you must also be able to control people here. It's gotta be part of your extended powers. Hasn't anyone noticed that our abilities seem to work much better in this place than back home?" It was then that they noticed that the wind was no longer blowing as well. But, dark rain clouds were closing in at a rapid pace and lightning was flashing every couple of seconds. There was a strange feeling on the air that was just slightly tangibile. It sent shivers down Awen's spine. She realized that perhaps Zephanie hadn't been the one to make her stop, but some greater power that they had not encountered yet. "Let's go inside," suggested Frank. He began to walk towards the opening of the castle that seemed to be the port of the draw bridge, although there was no moat. Flaeros was the last one inside with Maya still perched on his shoulder. The drawbridge automatically closed as the rain began to pour down in unrelenting sheets. "We need some light," Frank said and snapped his fingers. A small, but powerful flame burned in his palm. With the light, they were able to see what else Awen's powers had wrought: everything was made from various plants, including chandeliers, charis, tables, beds. Frank threw the ball of fire onto one of the chandeliers. The fire did not burn the plants as Awen had expected, but clung to the spaces where candles normally would have been. "Wow! Awen, I can't believe you were able to create a secret passage as well!" exclaimed Erain, who had wandered off into a distant corner. Everyone ran over to him at this latest discovery. "I didn't even know that a secret passage existed..." murmured Awen. |
| “How could you create something you’re not even self conscious of?” Serenity wondered out loud.Awen shrugged her shoulders. “Something’s doesn’t feel right about that hidden entrance.” “So being sucked into a world like this by some book does?” Frank asked sarcastically as he opened it. Stairs lead down into pure darkness. You couldn’t see what you were stepping into. “Stop it Frank.” Zephanie warned. “I’m with Serenity on this one. I’m getting a bad feeling. Just close it up and leave it be.” Erain ignored them and traveled down the stairs into the darkness. Flaeros followed. Suddenly Erain screamed. Without a thought to it, everyone followed soon after. The further down they went a green light began to glow. They spotted Erain and Flaeros at the bottom. Erain was sitting on the ground and holding her ankle. Flaeros looked back at the group. “She tripped and fell. I think her ankle’s broken or something." Then without warning small figures came out from a tunnel hidden in the shadows. They looked like troll dolls. “Who do you think you are barging down here like this?” A man said, coming out from the rest with the woman at his side. Both wore crowns woven from thin roots but they were beautiful nonetheless. The woman’s was smaller but still magnificently crafted. The man who’d spoken had a somewhat funny sounding voice, a bit squeaky. Zephanie had to nudge Frank in the side with her elbow when he’d started to laugh. “Sorry. We were just going when our friend fell down those stairs.” Awen said. The small people looked at the stairs. The man with the crown glared at them. “And I suppose you accidentally made that to get here to the home of the Grendels beneath your feet? Guards, seize them and prep them for execution!” The group was quickly surrounded. “What?” Serenity called out. “Look, we’re sorry. We really didn’t know you were down here. We just got sent here by some book and-” Gasps arose from their captors. Finally the woman spoke out. “The great book of Scintillious?” She asked. Everyone nodded. The woman looked at the man beside her. “Husband, you cannot execute them. They are the ones the book has chosen to bring. Why don’t you go lightly on them. They are humans after all they couldn’t have known.” Her words struck a cord in the king. “Fine… lop off a finger from each of them then.” He said to the guards. “Wait!” Erain replied. “I was the one who wanted to come down here. Everyone else just followed when they heard me get hurt.” “Me too." Flaeros said. Erain looked at him. “Someone’s go t to look after you.” He said looking at her ankle. The queen quickly leaned over and whispered something in her husbands ear. He nodded. “Good idea. Three months of confinement and then you will be sent back to your home, your powers bound within you." Everyone began to exclaim their shock. “Let that be a lesson to the rest of you. Never enter the dwelling of the Grendel colonies if you value your life and powers. Take them away. Wife, escort the others to the surface and get rid of that ghastly staircase.” The queen nodded. When everyone began to speak up, she glared at them to be quiet. It wasn’t until they’d entered the light that the queen remained in the darkness and spoke. “Amazing. I never thought I’d see a chosen one… and it seems some of you have already begun tapping into your gifts.” She said. “Quite lovely young Elf.” She replied as she glanced around the castle. “Do don’t worry about your friends. My husband speaks cruelly but I will ensure no harm comes to them- they will be treated as guests. Your friend will be healed and within a week I shall send them off.” She reached into a rich silken pocket and took out a silver whistle and matching chain. “Here. If ever help is needed, blow this whistle in this melody-” She paused, bringing the whistle to her lips and blowing a sweet melody using only three notes. “Our husbands are all the same but we queens are the true rulers- just don’t tell them that.” She smiled and handed the whistle to Zephanie. “I trust you wont loose it. And be warned. It’s magic will only work once so only call for my neighboring colonies as a last resort. One more thing… if you really want to know what your capable of, follow tomorrow’s rising sun and by mid afternoon you’ll arrive at a home of the finest wise old wizards I know. They’ll help you unlock your true potential- you are practically celebrities after all.” As she turned, Maya flew out of the darkness. The queen smiled and closed the door behind her- the passageway disappeared entirely, leaving the group stunned with the events that took place so quickly. They stood there, their brains trying to process what just happened. |
| "That is so cool Zeph," Awen exclaimed as soon they were left alone. "We can go and find help for your powers. And, you got the whistle of the Grendels" "Big whoop," Zephanie stated walking towards the stairs but they slowly disappeared. "Even if I wanted to go to that place we are stuck here for three months." "Didn't you hear what the queen said?" Erain asked. "She said it should only be a week." It was really dark underneath the castle. There were no fiery lights like in the castle. All the Grendels had left and they were left with eerie echoes. Flaeros sat down so suddenly that Maya squawked and scared both Awen and Serenity. The rest sat down. "This is hopeless. They said they were going to heal Erain's ankle, but now they have left us in a hole to die," Frank put his head in his hands with a large sigh. "Frank, come on," Zephanie stood up and beckoned to the exhausted Frank. "Light your fingers and we can explore these tunnels. The Grendels have to be somewhere." "Why can't we make the stairs appear again?" Serenity asked. She yawned and shivered, holding herself tight with her arms. "The Grendels took them away. It was the king's order," Awen stood up slowly and put her hands on the earthen walls behind her. "I think I could grow a different ladder for us, but we are far underground. There are no roots or vines close enough to use their energy for growth, and I don't want to be hunted by these little creatures." "Someone should stay here with Erain," Frank said as he stood next to Zephanie with his fingers lighting on and off. "Flaeros why don't you stay behind with Maya and Awen come with us. If we don't come back in 15 minutes follow whatever marks are left in the tunnel." With that Awen, Zephanie, and Frank started walking down the tunnel that the Grendels had disappeared into. Serenity sat down next to Flaeros and Erain. Maya nudged Erain with her beak. They all pet her feathers and talked softly to reassure themselves and and Maya. All of a sudden they were became quiet. Maya lay her head against Erain's, then there was a loud crack and a poof of smoke. "Maya!" Serenity shrieked. "Your back! How did you do it? You're human again." Maya's legs were curled up to her chest and her head lay on Erain's shoulder. She lifted her head slightly then smiled and stared at her fingers and long legs. "I'm back." "How?" Flaeros asked amazed. "I don't know," she replied astounded as well. "I wasn't scared of anything. I was very comfortable laying with you guys." Flaeros stood up and helped Maya to her unused human feet. "Well, it's been more than 15 minutes. Let's go." They all stood up and started walking down the dark hall. Erain hobbled in line between Flaeros and Maya, refusing anyone's help. |
| The place was full of moisture with them being so far under ground. Serenity wished there was a way she could be useful but it wasn’t like anybody would need her swimming talents any time soon. As they walked through the cavernous area, an eerie silence fell over the small group as they looked for the others. Serenity felt as though eyes were on her. “Does anyone else feel like we’re being watched?” She asked. Before she could answer the grendels appeared. Awen, Zephanie and Frank were all bound and pushed up in front. “Thought you could escape, did you?” The king asked as walked over to the others. The Queen went to his side, standing across from Serenity. “We just-” Flaeros began. “Silence!” The King of Grendels yelled. “Death- death to all these annoying little-” He yelled as he threw a fit. Serenity looked wide eyed at the Queen who in turn stopped her husband from continuing. “Husband… why force your people to live with such vermin until their death is carried out. Why not keep two- punishing them however you see fit- and setting the others go. Give them back their powers so that they can learn and become the great ones. The two THEYCHOOSE to stay behind will loose their gift forever and be sent back home- or killed. Whatever you decide.” Her husband thought for a moment as he watched the small group begin to complain “You can’t do that!” Frank complained. “It isn’t fair!” Cried Erain The king smiled. “Enough! I have decided. You must decide among you which two persons must receive whatever punishment I see fit. Now choose!” “I wont” Declared Zephanie. “You must!” He warned. Before the group said anything, two people stepped forward. Erain and Flareos. Erain spoke first. “Its my fault we’re all down here in the first place. I’ll stay.” She said. Flareos sighed heavily. “I can handle whatever you dish out. So go ahead and take my powers. Just let the others go.” He said. Zephanie, Awen, and Serenity all spoke up over each other, giving reasons why they should be the ones to stay. “My castle got us down here.” Awen said. “You can’t go!” Zephanie declared “No way!” Maya yelled. Serenity shook her head. “I’m no good here.” She said flatly. “All I’ve got is swimming. There’s not exactly any pools around here. You’re more valuable to the team than me.” She replied solemnly. Frank was the one to say something. “Let them do what they want. If they want to take one for us then let them. It’s their decision. Don’t stand in their way.” “That’s the decision. Me and Erain. Now let them go.” Flareos ordered in an authoritative tone. The king rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He looked at the others. “You’ve got your powers. Now go.” Reluctantly, they did as they were told. Regardless of how they all felt, no one wanted to be stuck down there. They did say goodbye to Flareos and Erain though. After that they were rushed out through a tunnel- the passageway closed as soon as they found themselves back in the forest. Not far from the castle Awen created. “What should we do now?” Maya asked. Serenity sighed. She didn’t know why Flareos didn’t let her stay behind. “Guess we should go find those wizards the queen mentioned earlier. I for one could use some help figuring out just what I can do.” |
| The group trekked through the forest without saying a word to one another. Maya kept her hands jammed deep in the pockets of her jacket as she tried to come to grips with her guilt and worry. It didn't feel right leaving Flareos and Erain behind but she knew the best way to get them back was for everyone to figure how to use their strange, new powers. "Does anyone know where we're going?" Frank asked from the back, breaking the silence. Everyone walked scattered along the path, leaves crunching under their feet. "We're following the sun like the Queen said," Zephanie spoke tritely. "That's our plan? Following the sun? You've got to be kidding me!" Zephanie turned and glared Frank down. "Do you have a better plan to find the wizard? Its not like we have much to go on." "I think any plan is a better plan than just stalking the sun around. We could be in the forest forever!" Awen separated the two and put herself between them so they wouldn't hurt each other. "Stop fighting. Now is not the time to bicker." Maya listened to their argument with only half an ear. The rest of her attention was focused on a noise just beyond the trees. She walked a few yards ahead as she strained to hear the sound. Her ears twitched. What was it? "Is something the matter?" Serenity asked as she stood beside her. "Can't you hear that?" Maya stepped further up the path to get a better listen. "Hear what?" Serenity stepped away from Frank and Awen and took position on the other side of Maya. "Drums." She couldn't keep the excitement out of her voice. For the first time in days Maya smiled. The sound was as heavenly as angels singing. The sensitivity of her senses might not be a bad thing after all. "I think I've found the wizard." |
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