Tyler Harisson Chronicles: The Gryphon's Sacred Blood

Chapter 30: Empedocles

Beneath them, a strip of land along the crest of a hill became prominent as they plummeted down.

Fergus was fast enough to know what to do. He flew just right before Tyler could realise they were falling ten thousand feet above the ground. Also, Hannah and Amber were both caught by their own broomsticks. Sometimes, he wondered how their broomsticks could keep up that fast. He dismissed the thought immediately.

"What were you thinking!" Amber's voice was still shaking. "We almost died!"

"Pardon. But that was the handiest shortcut Talisa could offer us." Pothos answered "Or else we would have to fight alongside against them. It's a waste of time."

"Amber!" Tyler flew beside them "Are you alright? Hannah? You okay?"

Amber and Hannah nodded.

"Akragas." Amber pointed the city in front of them through his chin.

The sky around them was a tinge of yellow orange and gold. The sun was still around, hugging and caressing the clump of clouds surrounding it. Below them, a long strip of land just along the crest of a hill snaked in the midst of fertile land. Several temples that were similar to Greece situated that seemed like to be there for a long time; torn down during wars and now preserved for tourist attraction. Tyler was reminded of his trip to Alverdiscott with his mum and mortal dad a few years back. Right before the you're a son of Eros drama erupted in his face. The fresh air of the farm was still lingering in his nose. The chill and upbeat music that his dad was playing while driving and his mum at the driver's seat sitting in pure delight that they would have to leave their work and everything stressful behind. Tyler felt weird. Why would that memory resurface in the midst of nowhere. Maybe it was a premonition that they could do it again. He had never been to Italy nor Greece. Most of his life, he would travel to Scotland, Alverdiscott, and Hounslow to visit some of his relatives. But anywhere aside from those places mentioned, he has never been anywhere else. But, he knew how the temples of the ancient Greece looked like and he was pretty sure it was one of them. Just like how he recalled in his history classes and history textbooks.

"Tyler." A voice of a man called.

"What?" He snapped out of his preoccupied mind.

His friends looked at him, confused.

"What?" Amber asked.

"N-Nothing." He answered.

"Listen..." The voice deepened. His heart throbbed.

Tyler gripped Fergus' lasso around its neck tighter. His eyebrow furrowed and he focused on the voice and hoped that it would give him directions and advice. At least let them know what to do next.

"Remember... That you are my son. Remember that in the end, your love for your friends and your family would outcast any darkness and sinful deed that this world had committed." The voice said.

"Dad." He just met his father few days back. But he was sure it was him.

"Remember who you are." The voice faded.

Tyler's pocket grew warmer. At first, he dismissed the feeling and didn't mind it at all and focused on what his father meant from his words. But his pocket grew warmer and glowed intensely in a bright hue of blue.

"Tyler!" Hannah called "The key!"

Tyler snatched it out from his pocket. The bright blue glow swallowed them in surprise. He recalled what Naflamuss has told them. It will glow and become warm if it senses its lost part. Beneath them, an old man in robes was starring at them. Hannah advanced in front of Tyler looking at his eyes intensely sending him a 'Let's be careful' look. 

Tyler and his friends flew toward the temple where the old guy in robes was standing. As they got closer to him, the guy immediately reminded Tyler of some old guy travellers in old children's story books. Or some old lads whom you could talk with and have a magical items right in the end of your conversation.

Hannah seemed troubled as they got closer. She might have known or heard about him from before; and by the way how her expression looked, it doesn't seem like he's a good old man.

    They landed on their feet. Hannah's expression was still stern and frozen serious. Tyler got off Fergus' back and so as Amber and Hannah on their broomsticks. Pothos was behind them.

The air was still and dry; and even though the sun was sinking, the glint in the old man's eyes stayed bright, calm, and reserved. His arms were crossed behind him and his expression was neutral.

"I assume you are Tyler Harisson." The old man started.

Tyler flinched. "Uh, yes."

"Welcome. Welcome to my Father's temple. Welcome to Akragas." He greeted.

Tyler could feel the strong air between Hannah and the old man. He tried to look at Hannah in the corner of his eyes while trying not to look so obvious. He wanted to ask where exactly they were, what was the old man's name, and why would they have to have a chinwag before the fight.

"You can call me—"

"Empedocles." Hannah finished. "I am pretty sure I've met you before. I'm pretty sure I've—"

"Child. Everything comes with a price. Your life was spared because of a price. And Dwergloud knew you'd be a good spawn of his. So he tried to bargain with me." He said calmly and faced Tyler.

Hannah was shocked and confused. She advanced and tried to lunge at Empedocles. But he was quick to snatch his arm behind him and point his wand at her; enough to stop her.

"Tsk tsk. You just arrived here, young lady. And that's how you'll greet me? Well, guess what?" Slowly, he slid his other arm from behind. Revealing a scrap of broken metal tied in a bronze chain. He untangled and released it from his grip revealing the second part of the key. Faintly glowing in warm golden light under the sinking sun.

"They key!" Amber announced incredulously.

"Yes! Yes! I know you've come for this." He crumpled the chain back to his hand and gripped the second piece of the key tightly. "Now. I want you, Tyler, to ask your friend to step back so we could start." He smiled calmly. So fake that it irritated Hannah even more.

Hannah clenched her fist. Her heart screamed in ancient Greek chants as it tried to hammer against her ribcage. Tyler could feel her emotion's raging inside. But they should not fail. And they could not afford to because the world's fate is in their hands. "Hannah." He called. He wasn't sure what Empedocles might ask in exchange of the second part of the key; but, he'd do anything to get that. "Calm down." He asked her calmly. Somehow, it worked.

Empedocles smiled in satisfaction. Amber and Pothos watched behind Tyler and Hannah in wary silence. Barging in would not be a good idea.

"It's getting darker! Would you like to spend some time in my humble abode?" Empedocles invited.

"Thanks, but—"

"That would be very nice of you. We accept your invitation." Tyler cut off Hannah. Tyler wished he had telepathic ability. Sadly he couldn't do that. Hannah and his friends stared at him pure confusion. In their minds, Tyler must have lost his mind. But they trust him anyway. So, they agreed.
Tyler knew it would be a great opportunity to sit down and talk to Empedocles and somehow hoped he could get some useful information. He knew they've got .01% of tricking him.

    I can't lose this. He told himself. I hope my plan would work out.

"Shall we?" Empedocles asked. He turned his back at them and walked peacefully in a straight line. Not worried if they would hit him from behind using a deadly curse or shoot his head and steal the key.

Tyler knew he wasn't that stupid. And having him to guard and keep the key up until this moment would surely mean something deep and mysterious behind. Getting the second piece wouldn't be easy. And he was sure of it.

Tyler started to walk and followed Empedocles' lead; and so did his friends.