CREED, The Fiery Storm

Walking Alone

                               CHAPTER THREE: falling in place

He wasn't sure of what to do next or whether Breala was even still alive for that matter. All he had was a body with no pulse. In the few days Jim had been in Virrta, he had not learnt much... just one thing; Virrta was not earth! Well aware of this, he had hope- a lot of hope for someone who was literally holding a lifeless body. With this hope, he lifted up Breala and moved out of the castle to go and find help. Just as he got out of the castle, he stumbled upon Strost who was clearly distraught.  

"Strost...what's up?!" Jim asked.  

"Sauzwin and Patt..." Strost neighed. "...they're gone."  

"Breala told me the Krichnd is gone too!" Jim spoke. "And then she passed out."  

He said the last bit while looking at her. Her long white hair was one with the ground.  

"I am going to Duskangeon..." Strost declared. "...I have to get them back."  

"I understand..." Jim empathised. "But can you help me find help for Breala first." This statement came out in such a way that it seemed as though he was sure there was help somewhere for Breala. Strost paced about for a while and this was making Jim nervous.  

"Get on my back..." he finally neighed. "I think I know where to go..."  

Strost moved hastily through the big gate down the mountain, southwest wards. They went over a lot of features; hills, forests, valleys...but none looked familiar.  

"Strost...where are we going?" He asked.  

"Can't you tell?!" Strost replied. "We are going to Zytalia"  

"Zytalia?!" Jim asked. They had been to Zytalia that very day but this route was not familiar probably because they sneaked out through a back gate earlier.  

"Yes" Strost confirmed. "That's where we'll find Djen the healer..."  

"Is Jane the healer the only one that can help?!" Jim wondered.  

"No." Strost fed his wonder. "...but she's the best."  

The city could now be seen and it was clearly now than it was on the first visit. Probably because the first trip was for sightseeing but this was out of necessity- the city right now symbolised hope. Just like on the earlier visit, they used the blue gate but unlike before, the residents were around. They were on the roads and in their compounds. Everywhere they passed, the Zytes stared. Jim wondered why they were looking! Was it the attire or the girl?!  

"Why are they staring?!" Jim whispered a question to Strost.  

"It's the sword." Strost answered. "It's a sword of legends."  

"Is there like a prophecy or something?" Jim enquired as he admired his own sword. In the streets, it was not uncommon to see someone holding a crystal ball. The balls varied in colour; blues, greens and purples.  

"There's no prophecy..." Strost responded. "...that's why it's special."  

The ride got faster as the streets got clearer (less occupied) and soon they got to their destination- the hall of holders. The building looked even bigger now than it had seemed before but then again, they were at the steps; much closer than they had been before.  

"Well..." Strost said when he arrived at the steps. "This is where we part ways..."  

"Didn't you say you'd take me to a healer?!" Jim asked.  

"Yes." Strost answered. "Go up the stairs"  

"This does not look like a hospital!" Jim observed as he got down and brought Breala along.  

"That's because it's not..." Strost replied. "Djen is in there, she'll be able to help you."  

As Jim ascended the stairs, Strost watched from down below. And when he was at the top among the pillars, Jim turned and looked back down below- Strost was gone. He turned again and faced forward. There was a huge metallic red door ahead which was locked. Even though he could see that the door was locked, he continued to move towards it. The two swing door flung open outwards revealing a very long corridor. Jim walked in and the door was shut behind him. There was total darkness. Creed?! Is that you? Fear the dark? Jim heard a voice, a female voice whispering in the dark. The voice was unfamiliar but it sounded like that of a friend. Lights came on revealing torches on either side of the corridor. White flames burning on the torches were responsible for the light. The path was well illuminated and Jim could see series of locked doors on either side of the corridor. Torches went out behind him as others lit up ahead.  

           Strost, who had gone on a mission of his own, had just gone out of the purple gate on the western side of the city. Looking ahead, he saw lands he had never before beheld and at that moment wondered if he was making a mistake. But instantly, he convinced himself that the only mistake he could make would be not helping his family and strode on. Duskangeon was a dreaded place, lots of  scary stories were told about it in all the ten kingdoms. The nights in that city were longer and darker-so they said. Tales of creatures of the night; an ancient tribe that walked the streets at night devouring any residents they stumbled upon. Untold hunger, suffering and crime. The city also had the biggest dungeon in all the realms, the most notorious of beings were locked up in Duskangeon. And despite all these terrors, the most frightening tale was of the King! A lady, they said, who had an army of dragons and wept flames when she was angry. There were also rumours that the prison gates were never locked but no one ever attempted to flee for fear of the King. Then there was the journey to Duskangeon; out of every ten beings that set out to get there, only four arrived at the gates and just two entered the city. All data showed that he would never make it there. And why was he so sure that his family was in Duskangeon?!

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                -Constino