HYBRID (Now a draft)

Fifteen

  Max was dressed in a flour sack.

Or so he thought. The sandy-colored outfit made him resemble a walking flour sack.They had entered a tiny hut below the mountains where one of the seven temples stood two days ago.

 The Temple of Mulina. 

Each temple was erected in honor of the Seven Swan Pearls that gave their lives to save the kingdom. The very first of the Swans. Blue Jay had told him.

The temples were places of sacred learning. One must prove one's determination by traversing up the steep mountain. It was the first test to becoming an apprentice of the temples.

Alone.

Evellyn and her friends were already apprentices that reside in the temple, they will follow a day after Max's own departure.

He had traveled for several hours already. The temple still a speck on the tip of the agonizing hill. He had his backpack, and a pair of new clothes. He brushed sweat from his brow. Several unamed plants tickled his legs. Trees scattered here and there, normal trees like the ones back home. Blue Jay had told him that an enchanted forests surrounded this temple . All temples had their own defense mechanism. If Max were to be in danger, the Keepers of the Mulina Temple will surely sense it and come forth. The forest was like a part of them.  They were probably watching him this very instant. The things people do here to learn. He shivered even though the sun blazed across the sky. 

He was just a game to the keepers, he decided. If they didn't like him, they could set free horrible monsters at him at any moment. Or the monsters could come themselves. The price of learning at the temples could be your life.

All magic users were to come to their nearest temples upon discovering your ability. It is to go against the law if you do not. Max had asked Blue Jay then that wouldn't they, the magic users,become afraid of going to the temples? Since the danger was obvious. He had chuckled and patted Max on his back. He said it was a matter of pride. Also,to have the privilege of entering a temple was a mighty honor. There were also others things you learn at the temples. Blue Jay's was sword fighting. Ted and Scotch wielded knives. Evellyn and Twyla's were the art of Enchanting .

And now it was his turn. He wondered if he would become an good enchanter. He wondered how Aunt Pearl was doing. She had told him every time he was down, that pearls can only form after enduring the worst of a plight. He guess he was only going through the mildest. 

He remembered asking Twyla why Evellyn had helped him before he  left. He was sure she did not like him at all. Twyla explained. It would be disrespectful to disobey an elder's wishes. If that elder was a Keeper, then you do as he or she says. The Keepers were the last people you want as your enemy. They are one of the most regarded people of their people.Besides the royal family.

" What about the Swans?"

" The Swans? They have disappeared decades ago. No one knows why or where they've gone. It is sad and strange. The greatest female warriors of all time." Twyla suddenly looked sad. Her golden eyes dimmed. Her expression became unreadable.

" You're lucky, you know? You could've been sent to rot in a dungeon for using magic without permission in Earthworld. And that's a less severe punishment. Were you older, you could've been killed on the spot. You were accused of being a Rogue, a magician without permits. A lawbreaker. Master LingFu had pardoned you from lots of trouble. You should really be grateful for what he did for you. Evellyn was just doing her job. And you know, you kinda burnt Blue Jay with your magic accident. That is something I wouldn't dare do with Ev around."

She turned away without further explanation. Leaving him thinking about what she meant.

Max kicked a pebble into a bush. He walked on. So humid. So hot. Not a person in sight. Just trees and bushes and tall supple grass. The climb was getting steeper. He could see the trees sloping toward one way. The way down. He huffed. It was boring. It was probably best it was boring. Better it be boring than be attacked and die a gruesome death.

His boredom was short lived.

A insect appeared before him. It looked like a giant wasp, the size of his palm. 

It hovered before him. Max stopped. Rays of light bounced off its metallic like skin. A silver sheen. His heart beated faster as it circled him. His reflection in it's two mirror-like eyes. The humming was unnerving. 

It flew away as fast as it had arrived.

Then he heard a rustle behind him. Then a faint thump. He slowly turned around. Two gleaming mirrored eyes glistened in the shadows. Two pools of silver. Two wide saucers. He stepped back and bumped into a tree. A faint bong could be heard. It was insanely cold. His hand felt the smooth surface of the icy bark. It was metal.

The creature stepped out of the dark.

A metal leopard the size of a car.

Its shoulders were hunched, ready to leap at any moment.Fear was showing on his face, the silver feline slowly crept forward. The fur on its back flattened as it bared its teeth.  Its ears were twitching as if it were a real cat. It was. It was a cat. Its hearing must be sensitive. His eyes darted to a stone on the ground.

Max reached for the stone.

The Leopard leaped.

Max ducked to the ground as the leopard passed through the tree as if it were liquid. It spun around, growling. Its whiskers twitched. Max threw the stone at the tree. A great ring echoed through the forest.  The mighty creature roared with agony as it tossed its massive head. Max ran.

The ringing was so loud that Max had to cover his ears as he ran. Great pebble.

The metal animal gave chase, angrier than before. It was faster and could pass through trees, so it was gaining speed and fast. His heart raced. He wasn't going to die like this, not eaten by a mutant car. The trees around him were all bare, why hadn't he noticed before? All shiny and cold. He ran as fast as he could. The trees were a blur. He can't keep on much longer. 

He finally spotted a massive tree with lichen, it must have been a hundred years old. He raced toward it. The horrifying cat just meters behind. He reached the tree. He huffed and he puffed and huffed.

Max squatted down in abrupt motion and tumbled to a side.

The leopard couldn't stop fast and enough, and its momentum brought it sailing headfirst into the tree with such force that the tree shook. A huge crash crumpled the feline into a lump of ugly metal. Hundreds of birds flew from their home, wailing cries of alarm. A huge ominous sound like a building before its toppling could be heard. A long creak that brought Max to both his feet.

The tree was leaning toward one side. Million tons of tree trunk groaned. Thousands of animals screamed and yelled.

Max fled with his might.

The huge tree came crashing down behind him.  

The earth lurched up behind him. The earth rose like a giant wave with hundreds of trees riding on it and slammed into the back of his head. 

And all became black.