Embodiment Of The Sun

CHAPTER 3 : THE GUIDE

The man didn't have human skin. He had the body and skin of sand. Little grains of sand were trickling off of him. In some patches of his skin there were rocks. It looked like even some saplings were growing from those rocks. He had the eyes of like sand itself, if someone were to look into them they would be able to see sand falling in those deep eyes. Even though his face sand-like, he still looked like he was at least one thousand years old or more. His back was sunken and had a wooden stick in his hand for support while walking. Everyone was shocked to see him. Even Shine was cowering behind Solis now.
"You look a lot like your grandmother, June, you must be Solis Maxane." Said the old man looking at Solis.
"How do you know my name? How do you know my grandmother?" Asked Solis with utter disbelief.
"Of course I would know her, she was the lightweilder. Very kind person she was. I enjoyed her company when she used to visit.
It's a shame she passed away.... " said the old man.
"How does he know everything? " asked Nicole.
"I knew the moment I saw you. The gem wouldn't have been inside your head otherwise. " the man pointed at Solis.
"So I am a lightweilder? What does it even mean? " asked Solis.
"Bunch of rubbish, if you ask me. " said Jake.
"It means that you have the power of the sun inside you, my boy.
You can restore this world to how it was again. You are the embodiment of the sun.... " said the man.
"I don't understand.. Me? I am just an ordinary guy who just wanted to celebrate his birthday, " replied Solis.
"But you did see the golden dragon , didn't you? But something is off.... Only you should be here... as per the prophecy...Who are these people? Your servants?" said the man.
" Watch your tongue old geezer! " said Sara.
"Answer our questions first! Who are you? Where are we? " asked Edward.
"This sacred world is called Drakenia. My name is Akshen. And like I said I am the guide of the weilders. "
"What are these weilders? " asked Alora.
"But mom never told me about grandma being a part of this world. This is all news to me. " said Solis.
"And how do we get the gems out of our head? " asked Aneya.
"Your mom was chosen like you all are chosen by the dragongems, Solis. Weilders can manipulate the element they are chosen to represent however they want. " said Akshen.
"But what does my gem suggest? I can control the element of poop?" Asked Aneya.
"Well if you consider poop is a type of ground or earth, then yeah." said Akshen.
"Look, I don't wanna be a weilder, I need to study for my math test" said Nicole.
"I am afraid that its out of my hands, you can only return home after you rid this world of evil shades." replied Akshen.
"What evil shades? " asked Solis.
"I won't be able to tell you anymore as time is running short. You all have places to be. You need to hone your skills to fulfill your destiny, " said Akshen.
"But we don't know where to go, who to ask for help," said Alora.
"Your people will tell you everything you need to know." He replied.
"What people? Even you don't look like a normal human being." said Jake.
"I am a man from Earthen City, Land of Earth. One of her people." Akshen pointed towards Aneya.
"Well nice to meet you then. " she replied.
"Off you go now. Time's up. " Akshen hit the end of his staff to the ground loudly.
"Off to where- "
Just then a small fissure opened beneath Aneya. Within a second she disappeared from view as she fell inside the hole Akshen created with his staff.
"WHERE DID YOU SEND HER? " screamed Solis.
"Bring my sister back! " screamed Alora.
"She is going where she must be. Your turn now. " he replied.
With another tap of his staff to the ground, numerous green vines sprouted from where Alora was standing and it looked as if they gobbled her up whole.
"Oh hell no.... everyone RUN! " screamed Edward.
After Alora disappeared, Akshen tapped the ground again. Before Edward could run a few centimeters... Giant ice spikes rose from the ground and trapped him. With a boom, he too disappeared and the spikes showered around them like frozen mist.
"YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE MY FRIENDS, " Solis. "STOP! "
"HE IS SEPARATING US GUYS! " screamed Nicole.
"I wanna punch him! Stop this nonsense! " said Sara.
With two more taps from his staff, a rift opened above Nicole and with the force of a tornado, sucked him inside. And Sara got engulfed in bright red flames. Now they both had disappeared.
"I don't like this at all, Sol, I think it's my turn next... " said Jake.
"Hold my hand, Jake, we will find our friends.... " said Solis with teary eyes.
"How adorable but sorry that I have to do this. " said Akshen.
It was indeed Jake's turn.
With another tap on the ground Jake's body started disfiguring. He was wobbling even when Solis was holding him. Within a second he turned into water. With a splash, he or the puddle that was him hit the ground and went inside it.
"No..... Why are you doing this? Give them back to me, please... I beg you.... " Solis was crying because of the loss of his friends.
"It's time for you to go now, be careful" said the man .
Solis dropped to the ground feeling heavy with the loss.
With another tap, Solis'  body began to glow. He was shining brighter and brighter by the second. He could feel his body getting hot. It was that unbearable pain again, except this time his friends won't be with him. He felt dizzy and losing consciousness is the last thing he remembered.
After Solis had gone where he was supposed to be, Akshen noticed the puppy, Shine.
"What do i do with you? Better to send you to your master, " he said and made the puppy disappear too.
With a long stretch, he yawned.
"Being a guide sure is hard" saying this, Akshen also disappeared leaving the desert completely lifeless again.