Luke Pane and his Anomaly Sister [ Fantasy ] (COMPLETED)

Chapter 6

Hours passed, and still, no one had come around. Luke finally succumbed to the pain and now lay motionless. Alarich had had come over and rested by his side, patiently waiting and hoping for him to wake. His calm breathing and eased face was relieving to Alarich. The horse saw the gills were gone and the boy's skin had completely healed. Humans took Alarich for an average horse, but there was more to him than anyone could imagine. Not even the good old doctor back home knew how powerful he was. He once belonged to a powerful sorcerer named Nathanduel. That sorcerer gave him things no other horse has. Alarich was given everything but the ability to hold things, and speak. What an existence to have, but instead worry about it, Alarich embraced these gifts and loved Nathanduel like a father, a brother and a friend. Sadly, the sorcerer lost a battle with a rogue fairy when they were traveling to Tanimil. The fairy knew Alarich was special. He killed Nathanduel for him. Somehow though... Alarich managed to escape, and ran for miles until he collapsed from exhaustion near a tavern. He was woken up shortly after by Doctor Thomas and his assistant. They cared for him and brought him to Arkenshire Village. From the time they met, forth, Alarich knew he would never be the same. Nothing would feel the same ever again. And though the doctor and his assistant were kind and fatherly to him, he vowed to himself never to be as close to the two as he was with Nathanduel.

It was then, as Alarich thought of his past, he heard sounds of a traveler passing by. He lifted his head and looked over. They were singing to themselves, and their voice had a friendly sort of way about it. He didn't sense any hostility–and he was always a perfect judge of character. His instincts were telling him to alert them. He looked at Luke again. Finally someone had come. He couldn't let this opportunity slip away. The horse went ahead and made a "Pbbbt," noise and stood up, walking through the trees to them.

Luke winced as he slowly opened his eyes and saw him leaving. He slightly raised his hand, "Alarich, wait... Wait...!" Alarich stopped and looked back in surprise. Luke dropped his hand and breathed out. Alarich glanced from him to the direction of the traveler.

Luke carefully looked down at his side, gently running his hand over where he saw the gills. His skin was normal again–completely normal. It's like everything that happened before was nothing but a bad dream. His eyes zipped over to the pond. The water was cloudy but there wasn't a body in there. Penelope would have been floating at the top. The boy thought about it for a moment. Maybe the other mermaids came back for her and left him alone, assuming he was dead. No matter how he looked at it though, he still had to hurry out of here and get back on the road. "Alarich..." he said. Alarich looked over at him again. He said, "Great news–I'm not going to die today." Alarich blinked and then walked over to him. He found it a little suspicious that traveler he was watching kept walking. Luke seemed to be alright. Perhaps, maybe... maybe it was a good thing that person didn't stop.

Luke carefully got up and brushed himself off. "I'm marking this on my 'what not to do' list." He rubbed his head and picked his clothes up, "I need to get dressed. I'm a little hungry too. When I'm done, we can both have a snack, then we'll be on our way again, ok?" Alarich stared at him.

***

Now they were back on the road. Luke couldn't help his fascination for the fact he lived through so much pain. They say nothing hurts worse than a badly broken heart, but this–he was pretty sure it topped the list. The bit of meat and drink was replenishing. He was very glad he brought those things along.

He and Alarich had left the mini forest and were entering a very strange place–Something similar to a wasteland. No trees, no grass, no life at all–Just dry land everywhere. But it wasn't any ordinary dry land; he thought he was seeing very tall and narrow dirt mounds out in the distance. The road was disappearing after a while too. The setting sun was beating down on his head. He was getting sweaty.

He checked the map. They were almost to Clakiwen. The boy who nervously walked through the gates of Ti-Tuk wasn't quite the same as the one now headed to Clakiwen. Today started with a new Luke. This one was a little braver and wiser. His parents and sister would be so proud.

The loneliness out here gave off a sad, eerie vibe. It was really interesting how each place had its own emotional atmosphere. There was absolutely nothing around–not even ghosts, 'guardians'... or any kind of beasts. Luke felt slightly stranded. He wondered if the Clakiwen people actually lived like this and how they were able to do it.

As they passed the first mound, he gaped up at it in amazement, seeing all sorts of intricate artwork etched into it from the bottom all the way up. There were windows too—rounded-off windows with glass. And open doorways. Everything was dirt except for the windows. What an intriguing sight...

The mounds spread out perfectly in-line with each other and went on for a long way. Miles, even. What he failed to notice was that they were all guard towers. He was being watched. Very closely watched.

The farther they went, the more the land was descending into a deep burrow. He repeatedly asked himself, 'where is the city?' There was a great, tall wall down there in the burrow. It didn't make sense to him. It seemed like one giant sealed-off tomb. Where was Clakiwen and its people? Was it destroyed? Was Gianna wrong about this? How could someone so old and wise be incorrect like this about the world they live in?

As they approached the wall, he pulled back on Alarich.

Gazing up at it, he started to think about how Gianna perceived him and what all she has put him through this far. Was he just being a baby, or was this really something to worry about? It felt like he was nothing more than a speck of dirt to her. But she always treated him so kindly. It seemed Joby was almost in the same position. The only difference was that he was directly related to the tree spirit. As Luke thought about it, he actually felt like he pitied him. Joby had no freedom, really. If the imp could understand the true meaning of freedom, Luke would do all he could to take him under his wing and show him what it's like. He is already basically the brother he never had. But... save that for another day...

He checked the map again. This was the last place with civilization he had to visit before he was on the way to Tanimil. There were other smaller locations, but they were all out of the way. The path there was quite a distance in itself.

He tucked the map away in the bag and slightly frowned at the wall. As he turned, he jumped to seeing a tall antlike person with six arms staring at him. Its antennas were moving slowly. The way it stood so still intimidated him so much it gave him goosebumps. He really hated that feeling. It also didn't help seeing it wasn't wearing any clothes.

It lowered its head slightly, "Who are you and why are you here?" It was male. His deep voice had clicking sounds too; very strange and even more intimidating. Luke tried to be calm and confident.

"My name is Luke Pane. I am... I am sixteen years old, and I am on a mission."

"You are on a mission?"

"Yes."

"What sort of mission?"

"I... I'm-"

The ant man stared at him. Uncomfortable, Luke looked around and then back to him, "I'm trying to get to Tanimil... I was told this is the way I must go."

"You're alone?"

"Yes."

"Where is your family?"

"My parents were poisoned... and they're going to die. I need magic from Tanimil to save them."

"Is that so?" The ant man said.

"Yes."

"I see..."

Luke was unable to maintain serious eye contact with him for very long. "Are you the only one here? What is your name, if I may ask?"

"No." The ant man walked past him to the wall. When he was close enough, he touched it and a tall hole opened. Luke watched with widening eyes. Dirt doesn't move like that–not from what he's seen!

"Follow me." The ant man said, sounding annoyed. Startled, Luke blinked, then flicked the reigns, "Come on Alarich."

As they walked through the hole, he examined everything about the wall. Nothing was out of the ordinary from what he could tell. As soon as they were through, it closed up. How extraordinary...