Journey to the Forgotten Island

Chapter 5 - The Fallen Magic Kingdom

Guards were posted at the grand entrance on either side of the solid ebony doors that rose to three times the height of a man or woman. It was a towering building with the intricate embellishments of old Vetusta chiselled along the high fortifications. The structure appeared to Toma as a giant sandcastle; the only building in Duro City constructed of golden red limestone.

Alveros led Toma past the guards and through a series of increasingly shrinking corridors. The large corridors were light and airy, paintings of robed men looking pensively in the distance hung up on the tall walls. As the corridors shrunk, they became darker, the windows disappeared and, instead, torches and candles lit the way. The scent of the corridors lost the salty smell of the ocean winds and became stale, not unlike the smell of an old disused dungeon.

At one moment, Alveros turned to Toma and, with a smile, said, 'Perhaps your grandchildren will attend this establishment as young noblemen.'

Toma nodded. It was an impossible fantasy. And yet, one day it could become reality.

Finally, they arrived at a large door, fortified with old steel bars. Alveros knocked on the door and did not wait before entering. Toma found himself in a large open room with high windows that faced a pleasant open courtyard with trees surrounding an elaborate limestone fountain. Inside, the room's walls were made up of shelves that reached up to the ceiling, full of scrolls, leather-bound books and ornamental scientific instruments. Toma's mouth hung open as his eyes followed the shelves up for what seemed an eternity before he saw the distant ceiling of the tower. A complex series of ladders, ledges and pullies had been constructed to allow various books and instruments to be reached.

'Welcome, friends,' a chirpy voice said.

Toma looked back down and saw, in front of him, two men, one old and one young, both dressed in bright blue robes. They stood by a long table upon which were laid out various scrolls and instruments. Toma recognised one of the maps from Alveros's office.

The man who had spoken was the younger. Now the older, less chirpily, said, 'Indeed, welcome, our most venerated guests. Welcome to the Academy of Scholars of Mera. We are proudly the oldest academy in Duro City, the only surviving building constructed by the Vetustans in the new town, and for this reason, the only institution bearing the appellation of Mera, the name of Duro City before it was renamed in year zero.'

Both men bowed and Alveros introduced the young man as Reader Penso and the old man as Grand Master Liri.

'Come, join us!' Reader Penso said, excitedly gesturing with his arms, to which Grand Master Liri shook his head and sighed. Penso, unperturbed, continued, 'We have been studying the Vetustan writings on Naxual. There are such fascinating accounts – centuries old!'

Alveros and Toma stepped to the table and looked down at the chaos of paper and leather. There was indeed the same old map of the Magoan Kingdom and Toma saw clearly from up close now that the sketch could be nothing other than a dragon. Just the sight of the great flying beast sped the beating of his heart. Other scrolls were covered in writing. Some letters appearing familiar to Toma but none of the scripts conveyed any meaning. To him, it was a foreign language as well as an ancient one.

Reader Penso approached Toma and shook his hand eagerly. 'I am told you hail from the desert ruins of the west. This is my area of interest and expertise. I have spent several years in the desert collecting artefacts and samples. You are so lucky to have lived amongst such wonderful relics of the past!'

Toma calmly wrestled his hand from Penso's grip. He was a harmless fanatic with a clean-shaven face and walnut skin. His hair was shaved short in the new style under his scholar's cap. He could not have been older than five and twenty, the same age as Toma.