The Chronicles Of Agatis- My Beginning

Chapter 5 Our Days in Mortada

After that, Agatis, Athena and I became a trio again. On ordinary days we would go to school, and teleport to Mortada. The most dangerous place in Talanta. It was where the evil blooded creatures lived. From what I learned in school Mortada is filled with dark wizards, savage dragons, flesh craving beasts and hell spirits. I was most scared of the hell spirits.

            When an evil mortal or wizard dies their spirit may choose to linger in Mortada because it wants to feed off the energy of the living. For example, plants. If they were to come in contact with one of us living creatures, they can suck our spirits out and end our lives.

            We were young and stupid during those times. We thought that if we hung out in Mortada, it could make us feel braver and boost our magical confidence. Dainty would come along to make sure we were ok. The whole time she would nag and beg for us to go home. But she never had to save our lives there because we had a secret hangout spot.

            It was wide cave with a really narrow opening. We had to turn side ways to get in. No beast can fit through. When we discovered the cave, a dead wizard came along with it. He was decomposed down to the bone. The three of us took one rib each for souvenir and buried the rest of his bones next to the cave. We called him Ignotus.

            Along with his remains Ignotusalso left a furnished cave and food spell packets. We would relax, talk about school and try potions on ourselves.

            One day in Mortada, the three of us were walking to the cave and we heard tree branches swaying back and forth, but there was no wind. Athena stopped.

            "We have to leave now." She said calmly but certain.

            "No way!" Said Alayis. "We just got here." Then Dainty flew past me and went all the way to Alayis's face.

            "Athena is right!" She yelled. "We must go now."

            "I can hear it!" Athena cried. "I can hear the thoughts of the evil spirit. It comes to snatch our souls and feed off our bodies."

            "That's impossible!" I said. "Spirits live deep inside Mortada forest." As soon as I said those words I felt it. The spirit began circulating the four of us; it had not become visible to us just yet. I felt its cruel intentions. We all took out our wands. If we aim our spell correctly on the spirit we could block it until we poof out. The three of us stood back to back facing a certain direction so that we can hopefully catch it from any angle. But it caught us off guard. Alayis felt it first. He screamed in pain as the spirit drew out half his soul. He was right above our heads. Then the spirit managed to do all three of us at the same time. The pain was unbearable. Imagine a yourself being pulled away and you trying to hold on to something. Anything. It felt just like that but it was happening to my insides.

            I heard Dainty screaming so loud. There was nothing she could do. I couldn't hold on any longer. At that moment I thought my life was going to end. I was seconds away from letting go, but then I woke up. My eyes were blurred at first. I just saw figures. Then I realized I was in the comfort of my own home. My vision became clear again. I was lying on my bed seeing my mother, Athena's mother and Fixer Harlot talking. They had not yet known I was awake.

            "Like I've been telling the Mistal's council men Mortada Forest must be destroyed!" My mother demanded as she conversed with them.

            "Why it must be around if it only brings evil. I don't understand." My mother rests her hand on her palm like she always does when frustrated and Fixer Harlot puts his hand on her shoulder.

            "Things will just have to stay the way they are Lady Aagan. Sure we can easily destroy the forest, but then where will the evil creatures go? You'll let them live amongst us causing havoc and chaos?"

            "Harlot has a point." Athena's mother said. “The forest is a good holding place, and this is no one's fault but our own children's. Hardly anyone is forced to go down there?" She takes a pause and grabs her coat off my door hook. "Now I must go back home to take care of Athena."

            "And how is she now." My mother asks.

            "She's doing much better." Athena's mother answered. "She just needs time to regain her strength."

            "I will be over there soon to check on Athena." Fixer Harlot added.

            "So long." said Athena's mother. Just after my sister Araya busts through the door and jumps on my bed. The beauty of her soul shines through so bright at only the age of six.

            "Agatis is awake!" She says. Araya was blessed with power to seek. She can close her eyes to picture someone, and she'll see where they are and what they're doing. Later on in her life it turns out to work well to her advantage.

            Mother runs to me.

            "Oh my boy!" She then kissed my cheek. “Your safe now, your home."

            "How am I still alive?" I ask. It's the only question I have to ask.

"When a spirit pulls out your soul, the easy part is taking the first half. But your heart locks the rest of it from escaping. Fixer Harlot explained. "It takes the ability to hold on keep your heart pumping to survive."

            "That's right." My mother said. “Dainty did a fairy call and summoned a thousand of them. They produced too much light for a dark spirit to withstand."

            "Yes. We found you three with your souls out but still connected and latched on to your hearts." The Fixer added. "All we were waiting for was the medicine to slowly push back into your bodies and wake you."

            "How's Alayis?" I asked.

            "He woke up yesterday and Athena in the middle of the night." My mother answered. "You listen up Alayis! You three are never to go back to Mortada. I swear on the gods if you do-"

            "Mother!" I cut her off as I saw her sobs. "I've learned, I've learned."