Gaiagon

Chapter 15: Strange Old Man

Fang patted the ground and went back to Sylva’s side. “I’m done burying those two men,” Fang said. “Thank you, Fang,” Sylva replied. “We couldn’t leave them out to rot. Burying them was the respectful thing to do.” “We better get moving,” Jeffrey said as he turned to face the road. “Where are we headed to next?” Seth asked. “According to your uncle,” Jeffry answered, “we are heading down this road until we arrive at Ruminia Castle, our king’s home. About a day or so down the road, we should see a unique mountain that was said to house some unusual Mougon sightings. We will take no more than a day there to see if we can find the Arch-Mougon. After that, we continue to the castle.” Everyone walked back to the road and began their long walk to Ruminia Castle.

“What do you think did that to those men?” Sylva asked. “Let’s review what we know,” Jeffry began in his usual analytical tone. “First, we know that those men were dead before they met us, because their flesh was already rotting by the time we had killed them. Second, we know that some kind of dark energy was inside of them, which would explain their blowing eyes, energy wave attacks, and their evil aura.” “I don’t remember an evil aura,” Sylva interrupted. “Well, I know for a fact that they had one,” Seth responded. “I know that Jeffry said he saw it, but I saw it too, which means that, unless there’s something wrong with both of us, it must have been there.” “If that’s true,” Sylva began, “then that still leaves one question: Why couldn’t I see it?” “We can’t know that until we know why Seth and I could see it,” Jeffry answered. “Don’t worry,” Fang said to Sylva, “you’re not alone. I couldn’t see it.”

“Well, back to the original topic,” Jeffry continued. “How can two dead men be brought back to life and given dark magic with the purpose of taking us down?” “I have an idea,” Seth began. “Do you remember what Malcolm told us?” “Do you mean about the man in red giving enhanced necromancy to that strange robed man?” “Ya, that. Wouldn’t you classify those two men as results of necromancy?” “If my sources are correct,” Jeffry started, “necromancy is an unholy obsession with the dead, normally resulting in the desire to reinstitute life into the dead for some reason or another. So basically, a necromancer is a man or woman that tries to use unholy powers to bring to life and control the dead. Throughout history, not one necromancer has ever strayed from a path of darkness, because the power quickly goes to their head. If we really are being attacked by a necromancer, than we have a lot of fighting ahead of us.”

Suddenly, Fang and Onyx stood still. “What is it, Fang?” Sylva asked. Fang slowly walked forward with his head constantly back in forth. “Fang?” “Shhh,” Fang said as he continued his sweep. Bushes to Fang’s left began to rustle. Fang, silently sneaking up to the bush, got into pouncing position. Right before Fang pounced the bush, a beast leaped out and knocked over Fang. “What was that?” Seth yelled. After the monster pounced Fang, it stood still with its eyes locked on Seth. “That…that’s a Volgon!” Seth said in surprise. “What’s with you?” Fang said as he got up. Fang growled at the Volgon, but the Volgon just stood there and acted as if nothing had ever happened. “Who are you?” Fang asked, getting a little annoyed. Onyx walked up in front of Fang and looked at him, almost as if he were telling him, “Back down, I’ve got this.”

Onyx walked up to the now peaceful Volgon and extended his whiskers. The Volgon extended its whiskers and the two pairs of whisker touched. After a few seconds, Onyx retracted his whiskers, walked over to Jeffry, and extended his whiskers. Jeffry closed his eyes and let the whiskers touch his forehead. When Jeffry reopened his eyes, Seth asked, “What did Onyx say?” “Onyx says,” Jeffry began, “that the Volgon was sent here by her master, and that she is here to help us.” “Did Onyx learn who the Volgon’s master is?” Seth asked. “No,” Jeffry answered. “Apparently, the Volgon was instructed to keep that a secret. Onyx did learn two more things, though. The Volgon’s name is Flare, and she was given one goal: bring us to her master.”