The Lands of Ralosia & Ranuulo (Books 1-3)

Webs of the Arachna Chapter 1-A harsh world

(18) The Lands of Ranuulo: Webs of the Arachna (6k Words)

Jirro and Aero are led into the Lands of Ranuulo for the first time, with Valr acting as their guide. This hostile world is unlike anything the boys has ever faced, with a hostile climate, dangerous animals, and powerful enemies. They came face to face with the Arachna, a group of spider-like people who reside in this terrain. All the while, Jirro comes to grip with the fact that he may not be as powerful as he thought he was.

(1/23/22) Self edited, Audio edited, Peer edited

Peer edited by Mikrokosmostae

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~Chapter 1- A harsh world~

~Age 991 B~

Jirro laid back in the sands as he watched the desert sky gradually turn from orange to purple. His cousin Aero was jumping tens of meters into the air repeatedly out of sheer boredom. His rough black hair rose and fell as he jumped around. Each time he would push a little bit higher. Five meters high. Seven. Ten.

Jirro looked at the temple before them - the Link Temple. In front of him was the brown-haired Valr, floating just a few inches off the ground, waiting patiently for the sun to set. The three sixteen-year-olds had been waiting outside for a few hours now.

"You sure we can't head in now?" Jirro asked, shaking the sand out of his neat blonde hair.

"We need to wait until it's nighttime here. It'll be daytime on the other side then," Valr responded, arms and legs folded as he levitated over the sands. Each of the boys had bags slung over their backs, filled with supplies for the trip ahead.

Aero eyed the horizon as the sun dipped beneath it, "Now?"

Valr lowered himself to the ground and unfolded his arms, "Yeah, now is good."

Valr turned and pried the temple doors open. When Jirro and Aero peered inside they saw a descending staircase with torches along the walls. The three teenagers headed inside.

Jirro recalled the last time they were here, a golden guard appeared to attack them. But none appeared this time. There were glyphs of the goddess and the three deities on the walls.

They came to a circular gate to the other side of the temple. Beyond that point it was dark, not illuminated by torches like on this side. They walked through the opening.

Nothing out of the ordinary appeared to have happened, but in reality, they had been transported to the opposite side of the world. Valr and Aero flourished their hands. Purple and red orbs of light appeared at their fingertips. Focus Lights.

"You'll have to teach me how to do that." Jirro remarked.

Valr raised his eyebrows, "You don't know how? It's pretty important that you do for the Lands of Ranuulo."

Aero smiled, "Let me show you, cuz."

Aero allowed his Focus light to dissipate, and he did it a few more times as a demonstration. After watching a few times, Jirro procured a blue Focus Light at his fingertips.

They continued through the dimly lit temple before stepping out into a world unlike anything Jirro and Aero had ever seen. Above them the skies cast dark shades of red, purple, and black. The uneven landscape around them was a wasteland with only sparse vegetation. The air became thick and difficult to breath in. Lightning sprouted from the sky.