Stonebrook High School

Chapter 30

"The battle was fierce, but the Order of the Stone emerged triumphant, saving the land and ensuring that peace and prosperity would reign forever."

"Well, not exactly forever," Lukas piped up from behind Jesse. The brown-haired male continued on.

"These five members, five friends... Together, would give so much to gain their rightful place, as five heroes. They would author their own end. They would slay a dragon."

"Wait, who was the fifth member? There's only four!" Lukas mentioned.

Jesse had to double-check the words within the book in order to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. "It... was Ivor."

"Ivor was a member of the Order of the Stone... The stories never mentioned him. This is so crazy."

Jesse gasped. "This would explain why Ivor had such a grudge against Gabriel!"

"They lied to us," Olivia hissed from behind one of the bookshelves as she walked into view. "They lied to the whole world."

"Why would they do this?" Axel also popped up from behind another bookshelf. Then he somewhat chuckled in a surprised/frightened way. "Man, I can't believe you punched a member of the Order of the Stone."

"This is so crazy," repeated Lukas.

"The Order might not be what we thought they were, but that monster is still out there and we're the only ones who have the keys to stopping it," Jesse said. He leaned over on his other crutch to look at everyone.

"Jesse's right," the blonde nodded. "We need to focus on what we came here to do."

"Where do these stairs go?" randomly voiced out Olivia. Jesse tilted his head and then hopped over to where the dark-skinned girl was standing. He looked up to where the stairs ended and shrugged. "Only one way to find out."

The male twin was helped up the stairs by Lukas while Axel and Olivia followed. Once they were up, they all dispersed, distracted by the intrinsic beauty of the fallen temple. Jesse took a look around.

This large room seemed to be the main area that the Order would do work in. Despite the large wall that had fallen apart on the front side, the room itself seemed to be in good condition. Near the dilapidated wall was some sort of lever pattern with a large light and the opposite wall was a map. In between the levers and the map was a stand with an amulet banner.

"Gabriel said this amulet would show us the rest of the Order," he thought out loud. "What if I brought it out here? Would it just start shining or something?"

After a bit of thinking, he decided to get the amulet out. Walking over to Lukas, he was about to ask for the amulet but then remembered it was still in his own hand. He had been clenching it since the arrow trap.

Sighing to himself, he stared at the amulet. "Might as well try."

He held up the amulet, waiting for any kind of signal or movement from within it, but there was nothing.

"Welp," he exhaled, turning to look at the stand with the banner, "I'm assuming it goes on that stand."

He turned directions and went to the stand. Carefully placing it with one hand, the amulet was now aligned on its edge and was parallel to the light and the map.

Jesse was looking around at what to do next when he noticed Axel staring at the large map of the world with brooding eyes.

"Whatcha lookin' at?" he said as he approached the large male. Axel flinched and then swerved violently, crossing his arms. "Nothing. Whatever." Jesse was not convinced it was 'nothing.' "Axel...?"