The early morning sun filtered through the dense canopy of trees as Angela, Patrick, Will, and Rex trekked deeper into the jungle. The air was thick with humidity, the scent of damp earth and leaves heavy around them. Though the valley wasn’t far, every step felt like it carried the weight of the world. The mission they were on—finding the portal stone—was now more than just a rescue mission for Patrick’s father. It was the key to stopping an alien invasion.
After hours of navigating treacherous paths, dodging dangerous creatures, and relying on Angela’s powers to cloak them from enemies, they finally arrived at the valley’s entrance. The landscape was unlike anything they had seen—an eerie calm stretched across the rocky terrain, as though the valley itself held ancient secrets.
In the center of the valley stood a massive stone archway, covered in vines and moss, its surface etched with symbols that seemed to shift in the sunlight. The path forward was blocked by what appeared to be a wall of dense fog, impenetrable and unnatural.
“This must be it,” Will said, glancing at the Andasastra and then at the archway. “The hidden valley where the portal stone is supposed to be.”
Patrick stepped forward, his eyes scanning the surroundings. “It doesn’t look like much.”
“It won’t be that easy,” Angela murmured, moving closer to the arch. Her instincts told her that this place was more than just a physical barrier. It was a test. “There’s something about these symbols. They’re…moving.”
Will studied the stone carvings carefully. “It’s a riddle.”
Angela tilted her head, trying to make sense of the shifting symbols. “A riddle we have to solve to pass through.”
Patrick frowned. “Why does it always have to be riddles?”
Will chuckled softly despite the tension. “It’s always riddles when ancient magic is involved.”
The symbols continued to twist and rearrange themselves, forming sentences in a language Angela didn’t immediately recognize. But as she concentrated, the meaning became clearer:
"Only those who see without sight, can pass through the veil of night. Speak the truth, then walk the line, and the path will be yours to find."
Angela repeated the words out loud, her voice steady despite the challenge in front of them. “It’s a test of trust and truth.”
Patrick raised an eyebrow. “And how do we ‘see without sight’?”
Angela closed her eyes, focusing her mind. She reached out with her senses, letting the energy of the valley guide her. Slowly, she felt the fog lift, not physically, but in her mind. “We have to trust each other,” she said softly. “And speak the truth.”
Patrick stepped up beside her, his face serious. “I’ll go first. What do we need to say?”
Angela smiled slightly, appreciating his willingness. “Something true. Something that comes from your heart.”
He hesitated for only a moment before speaking. “I’ll never stop fighting for the people I care about.”
The symbols glowed faintly, and the fog shifted, revealing a narrow path beyond the archway.
Angela nodded, impressed. She stepped forward, closing her eyes again. “I will use my power to protect those who need me.”
The symbols brightened further, and the fog continued to thin, revealing more of the path.
Will, too, followed suit. “I will make sure that the knowledge in this book doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.”
The fog disappeared entirely, and the path stretched out before them. They moved forward cautiously, the tension growing with each step. But the closer they got to the center of the valley, the more their anticipation turned to confusion.
There, in the heart of the valley, was no portal stone. Instead, they found another carved slab, ancient and worn, with yet another map etched into its surface.
Patrick stared at it in disbelief. “Another map? Are you kidding me?”
Angela stepped closer, studying the markings. “This one’s different,” she said, running her fingers along the carvings. “It’s showing planetary alignments.”
Will frowned. “Planetary alignments?”
Angela nodded. “It says the portal stone can only be seen under certain planetary coordinates. Those coordinates align twice a year—but the next one isn’t for another nine months.”
Patrick’s shoulders sagged. “Nine months? We don’t have that kind of time.”
Angela’s mind raced. They couldn’t wait that long. The aliens were already closing in, and if they got any closer to finding the stone before them, Earth would fall. She scanned the map again, hoping for some clue, some other way to slow their enemies.
Her eyes caught a set of symbols at the bottom of the map, something written separately from the rest of the instructions. It seemed important, like a warning.
“What does that say?” Patrick asked, noticing her focus.
“It’s something about the aliens,” Angela murmured. “It says the leader is their source of power. If we can seize the leader, the rest of them here on Earth will be powerless.”
Patrick’s eyes lit up. “So we don’t need to stop all of them. Just the leader.”
Will’s expression hardened. “That’s easier said than done. The leader will be heavily protected.”
Angela looked at the book in Will’s hands. “The Andasastra must have something—some kind of spell, or device, or weapon we can use to trap the leader.”
Will flipped through the pages again, his eyes scanning the ancient text. After a moment, he stopped, his fingers resting on a page with a strange diagram. “Here,” he said, pointing to the image. “It’s called the Astral Confinement—a magical trap that can bind an alien leader. It doesn’t kill them, but it holds them long enough to stop them from commanding their forces.”
Angela nodded, feeling a surge of hope. “If we can seize the leader, the rest of the aliens won’t be able to act without direction. It’ll buy us time to figure out how to find the portal stone.”
Patrick grinned, a renewed sense of determination filling him. “That’s all we need—time.”
Will closed the book and looked at both of them. “We’ll need to set up the trap near where the leader is. But once it’s activated, it won’t last long. We’ll have one shot at this.”
Angela met Patrick’s gaze, a silent understanding passing between them. They had a plan now, a way to fight back. The portal stone might be hidden for now, but they had something just as powerful—an opportunity to stop the invasion before it truly began.
“Let’s get ready,” Patrick said, his voice firm. “We’re taking down the leader.”
As they began to make their preparations, Angela couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The true battle for Earth had yet to come—but with the Andasastra in their hands and the Astral Confinement in their arsenal, they had a fighting chance.
YOU ARE READING
Fated Encounters
FantasíaIn a world where humans coexist with supernatural beings, Patrick possesses extraordinary powers, including the ability to control gravity and molecules, and move as fast as lightning. His father, Will, has been kidnapped by their nemesis, and the o...
