The Ender Princess -UNDER RECONSTRUCTION-

Jungle Relic

"Is this what you wanted me to find?" I asked the voice as if I was expecting an answer.

I walked through the ferns and tall grass as I approached the massive wall. There was a large break in the wall where I can only assume a gate was. I marveled at the amazing architecture as I walked into the clearing within the walls. Trees cleared away from the area letting the sun shine on the marvelous temple.

The temple was built in a cubic shape with four large towers at each corner. A large room, about a fourth of the size of the rest of the temple, sat at the top. Large openings, or what used to be windows, were perfectly placed on each side of the temple.

I approached the large rectangular opening at the front which I can only assume was once a grand door. The temple was dark. The only thing I could make out was a torch holder across the room along with four pillars set towards the middle of the room.

I reached my hand into my hoodie pocket and grabbed the two flint stones. My hand patted the wall to my right in search for a torch. I felt something cold, the torch holder, and slid my hand upwards. I grasped the large handle of the torch and lifted it upward. Once out of the holder, I brought the torch closer to me and held it between my knees.

The sound of the flint striking each other echoed through the grand hall. A single spark lit off the torch. I panicked as the flames licked upwards and quickly grabbed the bottom of the torch. I brought it in front of me to light up the room.

I walked further inside, making my way over to each torch to light them. Once the room was entirely lit, I was finally able to see the room. The four pillars in the center of the room outlined a stone staircase that led upwards. I walked up the stairs and into the top room. Sunlight filtered in through the large windows. The dust floated around in the rays of light, creating a yellowish hue. Although it was bright in the room, I still lit the torches.

I turned back around and walked back down the stairs. It wasn't until I had looked up that I had noticed that the ceiling of the grand hall was covered in a multicolor mosaic. The abstract pattern must've had meaning to the people who lived here, but I couldn't understand it.

The mosaic consisted of faded reds, whites, blues, and blacks. Each tile seemed to be a different shape. Although they weren't all symmetrical, it looked beautiful. The torchlight gleaned off of their dull glassy surfaces creating a light show below. The colors reflected onto the stony ground, turning the floor different colors.

Torn banners of red and black hung from the pillars. Based on the colors that were present in both the mosaic and the banners, this must have obviously been a royal temple. The towers were where guards slept and kept watch.

I wonder what happened to this place? What caused it to be abandoned?

I looked about me to the right and noticed two smaller spiral staircases at each corner. I fastened the bow around my shoulder before I made my way back down the stairs. My footsteps reverberated off of the mossy walls as I walked over to the corner.

The staircase spiraled up the tower to the top. At the top there was a small room where a chest sat next to what looked like an old cot made of palm branches supported by bamboo. I walked over to the chest. The golden edge gleamed in the shaft of sunlight that shone through the window. I opened it cautiously, careful not to break it. Nothing sat inside.

Disappointed, I walked back down the stairs and to the opposite staircase. I was almost getting dizzy from walking up the spiral staircase once I had reached the top. I held out my torch to light up the room.

I yelped as a couple of bats flew out the window when I shone light on them. I clutched my chest and let out a heavy sigh followed by a chuckle of embarrassment. I shook my head with a smile as I laughed at myself.

The room was set up similarly to the other except for the addition of a torn and moth-eaten rug on the floor. I walked over to the chest and opened it. An old stone sword with a wooden handle sat comfortably inside alongside a leather tunic and a gold nugget.

I looked at the sword. I didn't want to take it. Violence is not the answer. I felt a flash of pain force its way through my body and I quickly grabbed it before the aches came. The pain wasn't as bad as it was before, but it still hurt.

What if you need to defend yourself?

The voice was starting to get on my nerves.

"Why do you stay? Why don't you just leave me alone?" I huffed.

You're alone. Aren't you? Don't you want company?

"What company are you? You're just a voice in my head." I stood up and walked over to the window to see where the sun was.

I can be whatever you want. If you want me to just be a voice in your head, so be it. If you want me to be your enemy, so be it. If you want me to be your friend, so be it. Just a fair warning that if you chose for me to be your enemy, there will be consequences.

"Are you asking me to choose?"

No, I'm just asking you to consider me as your friend.

"Like I said, you're just a voice in my head."

Like I said, you can make me whatever you want. But be aware that there are consequences for bad choices.

"Be my little fairy princess, then!" I shouted. "You could be a tree for all I care! Just give me privacy when I need it!" I was getting frustrated.

As you wish.

And with that, the voice vanished.

I felt alone again. My lips started to form the word "Wait", but I stopped myself from saying it. I reached over and set the sword down on the chest.

The sun was low in the sky, its orange limbs stretching across the land. It was so strange. It felt as if it had only been midday a minute ago. I guess I had spent more time in this jungle than I thought.

At a closer glance, I had notice that I was near a sandy beach. An endless sea stretched out to the north and the jungle curved around it to the south. There was a long stretch of grassland to the west and even more jungle to the east. As I looked closer at the grassland I noticed something glinting in the light far off in the distance. No matter how hard I squinted, I just couldn't make it out.

The sound of my stomach growling brought me back from my internal adventure through the world. I looked about the room in search for any food, or water, for that matter. It was to my dismay that there was no food.

"Sorry. Guess we'll find something tomorrow." I sighed.

I placed the torch up on the torch holder to light up the room. I then removed the bow from over my shoulder. The bowstring got caught in my hair in the process. I let out an exasperated sigh as I reached my arm back to untangle it. Once untangled, I set the bow on top of the chest next to the sword.

I knelt down onto the ground and picked up the rug off of the floor. I aired it out to get the dust and dirt out of it. This plan backfired considering that the dust instead went into the already musty air in the room. I coughed and sputtered as I breathed it in, eventually ridding it from my airways.

I set the rug into the cot and sat down onto it. I pulled up my right pant leg to my knee to look at my shin. A large purple bruise spread up my shin followed by a deep scrape. I winced at the sight of it.

I certainly hope this doesn't get infected.

I pulled my pant leg back down and looked out the window. The sun sunk into the sea, creating orange and red paintings in the water.

I swung my legs onto the bed and pulled the rug over me to substitute as a blanket. Although it smelled musty and was covered in dirt it kept me quite warm. The soft, rhythmic sound of the ebb and flow of the waves on the beach slowly lulled me to sleep. The darkness holding me in its warm embrace.