Solomon's Challenge Book 1: Zerek the King

Chapter 7: The Foot Of Rockajin

"We are eternally in your debt" The village chief said, bowing his head towards Sol.

"It was nothing worth this much praise." Sol replied, "But please, explain to me what that staff was."

"That was Rockajin's staff. Long ago, before the volcano even existed, there was a huge creature known as Rockajin. Rockajin was a passive being, but also slightly reckless. When Zerek came to rise, Rockajin challenged him, and lost. Zerek separated Rockajin from his staff.  Without the two together, Rockajin couldn't balance his power, so he ended up losing. The staff was shrunken, and Rockajin was transformed into the volcano that stands there today. Rockajin was very close with the village, so when he died, his final parting gift was a protective ring around the village, controlled by his staff. Sol, you told me of a path behind the village that the demons wouldn't follow you into yes?" The chief asked.

"Yes, we ran into the path, and the demons just stopped following us. Then they froze as we went deeper, we believe that time was stopped." Sol explained.

"I see. Allow me to explain why the demons stopped. The staff deflects all demons within a certain radius of it. When it is in the centre of our village, the entire village fits within this radius. That's why the demons fled. After defeating Rockajin, Zerek came to the village looking for something. He tore up everything looking for this something. He broke into houses, killed animals, burned crops, and anything else you could imagine. He never found what he was looking for, so in turn, he cast a spell that turned all of the things he recked into a single life form. The chimera that you fought. It attacked the village, and we lost most of what we had fighting it, but eventually, we were able to trap it deep in the forest. I was the one who set the time barrier." The chief explained.

Vania asked quietly, "The shadow's aftermath was the chimera. Zerek is the shadow isn't he?"

The chief replied, "Indeed Vania. When we trapped it in the forest, we had our minds erased of all of the events leading up to it. All I was allowed to remember was what I've told you. We had to make sure that nobody remembered how to free the horrid beast. But without realizing it, we trapped the chimera, directly after it stole Rockajin's staff. That's why the demons were able to attack us."

"I see." Sol replied, nearly speechless, "You have told us all that we needed to know. Is there anything we can do in return?"

"My boy I think you've done enough for us," the chief chuckled, "But if you must, go and save Rockajin from Zerek's curse. Venture up the volcano, and break the spell. Not for me, not for Vania, but for the dragon families. I believe saving Rockajin, is the next step in defeating Zerek himself."

"Sounds like fun!" Vania cheered, "Let's do it Sol!"

"Very well. We will now take our leave. Thank you for everything." Sol waved to the chief.

"Wait Sol, one more thing! Take the staff with you. All of the demons come from the volcano anyways, so we won't be needing it while you're up there. Be careful though, you will only be able to use the staff's powers once, it must be in a magic place of holding for any long-term effects." The chief called as he handed Sol the staff.

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart chieftain, sir" Sol replied as he stored the staff in his bag.

Sol and Vania said goodbye, and took their leave. They left the village and headed towards the volcano. On the way, they ran into a man on the side of the road.

"Are you okay sir?" Vania asked politely.
The man mumbled.

"I'm sorry you're going to have to speak up." Vania said, ducking down to hear more clearly.

The man shouted in Vania's ear, "I said you're DEAD girl!"

Suddenly, the man jumped up and shot a dark green ball at Vania. It hit her, and pushed her to the floor, wheezing as it had hit her in the stomach. The man turned to Sol who readied his sword.

"Who are you?" Sol shouted.

The man didn't reply, instead he jumped and punched Sol in the throat, sending Sol to the ground too. Sol forced himself up, and swung his sword. The man dodged it easily. He jumped up to aim another throat punch, but this time, Sol was ready. He swung his sword, and cut the man's head clean in half. The man fell to the floor, and turned into a demon. Before the demon could move, Sol brought his sword down on it. The demon dissolved into the air.

"You have got to be more careful Vania! We can't trust anybody out here!" Sol scolded Vania.

"I'm sorry for trying to help!" Vania replied.

The two kept arguing until they reached the foot of the volcano. Suddenly, the two became silent, as they looked up at the volcano that was thousands of feet high right in front of them.

"It's beautiful." Vania said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah..." Sol replied in awe.

There was no doubt about it. The two were at the foot of Rockajin, on their way to help stop Zerek.

"Well, we'd better start climbing." Chimed Vania.

"Yeah I guess" Sol sighed.

The two started climbing their way up, step by step, hour by hour, day by day. They had to have been climbing for at least three days when Vania noticed a strange formation in the ground. She approached it carefully

"Hey Sol, what is this thing?" Vania asked.

"I don't know. Probably just a weird rock. Just ignore it." Sol replied.

Sol continued walking, and after a second, Vania started to as well. Vania had only taken a few steps, when the rock started moving. I got up and Sol realized, the rock was in fact no rock, it was a demon!
"VANIA, LOOK OUT!" Sol shouted.
The demon turned and started running towards Vania. Vania drew her sword, but in her haste the demon was able to easily knock it out of her hand. The demon pinned Vania to the floor.
"GET OFF ME YOU FREAK!" Vania screamed in the demon's face.
The demon let out a shriek, then picked Vania up. Sol rushed to attack the demon, and free Vania, but when he was only a few steps away, he realized Vania was being held over a cliff.
"Put her down." Sol tried to reason, raising his hands to show he meant no harm.
But the demon was not capable of thought, unless directed by Zerek himself. The demon dropped Vania of the side of the cliff.
"VANIA!" Sol shouted, as he ran to the cliff, and tried to grab Vania, only to watch Vania scream, as she fell thousands of feet.
"VANIAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Sol yelled at the top of his lungs, as tears started pouring from his eyes.
Suddenly, he felt an anger more powerful than anything he had ever felt before. His eyes started glowing a blue energy so bright that it would blind anybody who saw it. The engravings on his sword glowed the same blue. Sol let out an extremely loud roar, and brought his sword down on the demon. Then he hit it again. And again.
The demon started dissolving, but Sol just grabbed it's remains and kept slashing. Sol had to do something, ANYTHING to ease the pain. Once the demon was completely gone, Sol fell to his knees and looked over the cliff.
He knew in an instant, he HAD to get her back.

End of book 1