The legend of Zaphratos

Safe at last?

After many hours the sun rises and with it so does Henry

Henry opens his eyes with a yawn and raises both of his arms above him stretching before looking around, he recalls the events of the previous day and slowly stands up "Okay, let's start the day" Henry says as he sees the coat munching on some grass nearby.

"Head to the right Henry," says Zaphratos's voice from deep inside Henry's mind, Henry's heart and body jolts lightly at the voice "OH, hey zaphratos," Henry says with a nervous lightly laughy voice very surprised to hear his voice so suddenly.

"Hello Henry" zaphratos says somewhat dismissively "We should head towards the right direction and attempt to reach my dungeon with haste," he says sounding very distracted, unlike his usual self.

"Okay, we'll head there now," Henry says trying to sound positive as he wonders what's happening with zaphratos. Henry faces towards the right and begins his walk through the green fields of long grass seeing a clearing in the distance but nothing notable otherwise.

"So, what did you mean by dungeon?" Henry asks curiously slowing down, "Well, long ago when there were only the animals you see in Tafall we were tasked by our father to reign over these sealed underground structures called dungeons. Within them we were to tend to and sometimes excrement upon creatures like you, humans." Zaphratos says sounding more calm and collected.

Henry's eyes light up "Wow, I've got so many questions, who's your father? And there's really other humans here?" He says overflowing with wonder and interest.

"My father, the god of creation although I don't really consider him a god, to be frank, is beyond us in every sense of the word. He's a very creative man whose interest tends to flee very quickly, to my knowledge none of us have seen him since we were tasked with the dungeons. I dearly hope he will return soon but anyway, he's a very powerful being that likes to create and observe how things change and live." Zaphratos says with a bit of sadness but trying to project his usual calm attitude. Henry thinks over what zaphratos is saying with a bit of worry about what zaphratos is going through.

"And to answer your second question" zaphratos begins "Yes, there are other humans but I do not know how they got here or if he created them, he simply showed up one day with them and gave us the task." Zaphratos finished with a mental sigh, "wow, I'm sorry you had to deal with all that" Henry says in a soft voice feeling bad for zaphratos. "We should definitely learn more about the other humans but let's keep moving, and if you want you can vent about the whole thing with your dad..." Henry says softly.

"Thank you Henry but that's unnecessary, I'm fine," zaphratos says as Henry begins to walk faster again. "Alright but let me know if you want to anytime," Henry says with a smile as he looks ahead returning his focus to the clearing ahead as he walks. "Will do Henry, will do" zaphratos says before going quiet.

After a dozen and half minutes or so the "two" arrive at the clearing slowing down as Henry's eyes widen "Woah, is this it?" Henry asks curiously filled with amazement as he looks downward ahead at the large stone sigil-covered seal surrounded by much lower grass in the clearing. "Indeed Henry, this is my dungeon," zaphratos says in a slightly proud voice somewhat excited to be back. Henry smiles upon hearing that and walks closer admiring the large stone seal, "wow, it looks so cool" Henry says seeing the giant sigil covering the seal which seems to be a triple-layered shape that is bound and connected by lines, in the middle lies a sphere containing a plus shape of lines as well as an x shape connected to that. Beyond the sphere is a connected stretched octagon-like shape that is pierced and connected by a webbing of lines connected to six triangles with a protruding spear-like line on their tops, they exist at the top left and right, the middle left and right, and the bottom left and right seeming to serve as outer receivers or amplifiers. And finally hexagons one on the bottom and one on the top connected the netting inner and outer. Each hexagon has two spear-like lines as well one on each outer side.

"You're really studying it huh?" Zaphratos says proudly surprised that Henry would be so interested in his work. "Yeah! I've never seen such a complex shape before" Henry says excitedly and very interested "Did you make this or did your dad?" Henry says curious. Zaphratos feels a light sinking feeling at the mention of his dad possibly creating it but pushes it down "I did" zaphratos says proudly "I have a high interest in sigil making" he finishes.

Henry smiles "That's amazing, I'd love it if you could show me more later on," he says happily, "I'd love that," zaphratos says mentally smiling. "Now" zaphratos begins "we should enter the dungeon and begin, no outer force should be able to break in not even the Vasari" zaphratos says. "Great, let's do it," Henry says excited to see what's inside.

Zaphratos takes over and raises his arms out and briefly closes his eyes before opening them causing them to glow gold "elimar ominesque ephirte" he says releasing a stream of his golden celestial energy into the sigil-covered seal below causing it to glow very brightly gold. Henry regains control as it happens and quickly covers and closes his eyes at the extremely bright sight.

As he uncovers and reopens his eyes he sees a torch-lit refined stone room that stretches far. Within the room he sees two soldier-like stone statues, they wield long spears with rubies just past the smooth handle. Henry looks at them closely in awe very interested in them and also wondering if they're somehow alive, "pay them no attention they won't activate in my presence" zaphratos says dismissively "Okay, where to next?" Henry asks still curious about the statue and happy to know he was right about them being alive.

"The humans should lie ahead as long as they still live," zaphratos says calmly, " Henry gulps surprised to hear that "Alive?" He says his voice reflecting his surprise "You think they aren't?" He asks in worry. "They should be alive but I haven't been here for some time so who knows" zaphratos says thinking there's no reason to have any higher hope in them. Henry lets out a breath and begins walking forward hoping they still live.

Soon after Henry's eyes light up as he sees medium-sized round hovels made of stone filled with beds of wool almost like something an ancient man would live in, as he walks towards it an old man with a younger but still fairly aged woman comes out, the old man being somewhat short with long gray hair and a wrinkled pale face and skin and the women having pale skin as well but long dark brown hair. They happily smile and greet Henry "Hello! Who are you? Are you a new addition to this place?" The old man says while the woman happily examines Henry.

"Hi, umm no actually I'm here with zaphratos seeking somewhere to stay safe for now," Henry says smiling back at them. Their eyes light up at Henry's words "zaphratos! Our god returns! Where is he?" The old man says happily, the woman walks past him and looks around "zaphratos are you here?" She says excitedly with a smile.

"Oh, he's inside me if that makes sense? There was a whole thing with me finding him and him saving me" Henry explains, "what?" They ask confused "You hold within you our god zaphratos?." The old man says

"Yeah... for now at least I've got him inside me because of something that happened with his brother" Henry explains sounding reluctant. "My gods, our god's vessel has been destroyed." The old man says with sadness "I'm sorry he's done that my lord, is there anything we can do to help?" The old man asks desperate to lend aid.

Zaphratos takes over his eyes flashing gold momentarily "There is no need but thank you alinar" zaphratos says calmly but projecting his voice more than usual, at zaphratos's words alinar and the younger woman smile and bow for a moment before standing back up straight "my lord, it is such an honor and a pleasure to have you back" alinar says smiling widely "anything you desire is yours if we can be of service" alinar says happily.

"I appreciate your support Alinar and you Alina, I'm glad you and your daughter still live," zaphratos says with a smile. "I ask only of a hovel for me and my vessel," zaphratos says still smiling enjoying the reunion. "It is yours, my lord," Alinar says happily in a calmer voice as he motions towards a nearby hovel that is vacant. Zaphratos bows and moves into the hovel and gives control back to Henry as Alina and Alinar watch with happiness and gratefulness in high amounts.

Henry smirks happily "You're well liked aren't you zaphratos?" He says teasingly, "Indeed, the humans here think of me very highly and I them," zaphratos says unaffected by Henry's teasing only happy and grateful to be back. "Now get some rest tomorrow we have much today," zaphratos says before going quiet "I never turn that down," Henry says in a laughy voice as he lays down on his back with a sigh happy to be off his feet and relaxes. "Oh yeah, I keep forgetting because I don't feel much of it with your energy but I should eat tomorrow huh?" He says to zaphratos in his head "Indeed, would be wise to not rely entirely upon my energy" zaphratos says as Henry closes his eyes with a sigh.