Mythical Book #1

Chapter 25

Everything around Paige is pitch-black except for her glow, “Really? More darkness? You would think that a place built for fire would be brighter.” Paige says to herself.

Paige steps forward, and then the hallway lights up with the same lanterns as in the other hallways. But, this hallway is different. It is precisely cut and made out of scales of metal that are copper in color, ‘The walls look like snakeskin.’ On the bottom, about a quarter of an indal from the floor, is a silvery metal band embedded in the copper walls on both sides that runs along with the wall for as long as the hallway goes.

‘It’s still really dark, I can barely see the end of the hallway, but at least it does end.’ There are rectangular openings in the copper wall that look out into darkness. Paige pulls out her sword and shield as she cautiously moves down the hallway, ‘I’m not sensing any danger, but I better keep my guard up anyway.’

When Paige makes it to the end of the hallway, she stops in her tracks. ‘That is an immense void! It’s larger than any canyon I’ve ever seen. Though I haven’t seen very many, mostly the ones back home, which mom said they were the largest in the land. But, this has to be at least three times the size of those!’ Looking down she sees another fully exposed copper snake passage attached to the interior black volcanic rock walls of the void. The passage spirals down and continues into a large lake of boiling lava that covers the entire floor of the void. Paige can see the outline of the passage under the lava to a certain point, but then it fades away as it goes deeper into the lake.

To Paige’s left, the copper snake hallway continues, as do the openings, ‘Those openings seem like windows, so someone could walk around the rim of the void with an unobstructed view of the lava lake.’ To Paige’s right is a stone staircase carved out of the black rock that goes to another area. Paige walks up those stairs, halting at the last step. At the top is a large platform that overlooks the whole void and passages. The floor is made of large smooth copper squares that are laid out like tiles. At the far end of the platform is a stone structure, ‘That looks like one of those altars mom told me about that are in the Archerenian Temples.’

Paige steps onto the platform. A low hum emanates around her. A beam of light runs between the tiles and then splits so each gap has the light beam run through it. As it gets to the other end of where Paige is, a ring of light forms around the edges of the platform. It then levitates above her, getting smaller the higher it goes until it blips out at a point in the center.

Paige walks forward with care. She then hears a snarl from behind her, ‘It sounds like a large cat.’ Paige turns quickly, unsheathing her sword and shield. In front of her, slowly coming out of the dark shadow beyond the platform is a very, very large rams head with large curling horns. Paige then notices the torso as it comes into the light and from the neck down is the body of an extremely large lion. It’s about the size of two or three Diegos. There is a twitch in the shadow on the other side and appearing in the light is its tail which seems to be scaled like a serpent with a bit of a hairy bulbous end. ‘I can’t sense anything from this creature either!’

With its large cat-like eye staring through Paige’s soul, it speaks, “You bested my Ashmen. Not an easy feat. You are brave.”

‘Oh, my, not what I expected. It has manners and properness to the way it speaks.’ Paige is surprised.

 The creature speaks again, “I am a Criosphinx and you have come for the Eye of the Sun, have you not?”

“Yes. We are on the brink of war and the Trolls…”

“I care not about your quarrels! I care about the stone’s protection! You have proven to be brave. But bravery doesn’t always have intelligence. Best me at this and you can earn the privilege of the Eye. But be forewarned, the power you seek is not to be taken lightly. Let’s BEGIN!”