Dragon and Prophesy Read online

  CHAPTER THREE

  LONUS

  At the rise of technological advancement, the influence of magic faded more quickly than expected on planet earth. The world had changed quite rapidly. Mages: beings acquainted with enchantment and sorcery, wizards and witches were noble, respectable and very popular people in the society. The world recognized the place of magic in the society at the time. There were other magical creatures too: dwarfs, still very much around today, but possess rarely any ability to do sorcery; elves, talking about height, they are close relatives to dwarfs. They are very intelligent creatures; centaurs, half human to the waist, the other half is a horse- four legs, hooves, tail and horse's strength; goblins: mischievous creatures, children of slavery and are quite related to the elves. Also, dragons were well known amongst the inhabitants of planet earth. Dragons lived peaceably with the other magical denizens of planet earth. However, when dark magic took the heart of some mages captive, dragons soon became instrument. Dragons are menacing when prone to evil and with devastating consequences too, they could raze down a whole village. An arch-mage; usually a great wizard, possesses the ability to control dragons but they are not easy to come by.

  Legend has it that vampires, were-wolves walked the sands of planet earth but lived in constant dread and fear of the curse placed upon them by an arch-mage, a powerful sorcerer. They dread either the light that governs the day or that which governs the night and anything born of silver. They are very dangerous too, if they are on the dark side. Legend also speaks of were-cats (cheetahs, panthers) that were magical creatures.

  However, owing to the mainstream of technology, magic gradually faded in influence and power. They have said in fact, that technology is advance magic. Some mages now make a living by performing at circuses, or by organizing magic shows in theaters. The idea of witches or wizards, elves or centaurs, vampires or were-wolves ever living was now a myth. While generally, dragons are believed to be completely extinct. In the advent of technology, a particular mage who took interest in science soon discovered a spiritual source of energy, strong enough to help them transport between two worlds. A mage can teleport from one part of the universe to another through this energy sources, they connect two planets; the earth and another planet. These energy sources were later known to be ley lines- spiritual and mystical alignments of land forms. There are mystical network of ley lines at certain places on earth. They can be found where there is a spring in certain wells and also around ridges found in hills or within monuments.

  A new planet was found and many magical creatures decided to move there, here magic will still be as relevant as it used to be on planet earth and all they will be doing will be governed by magic. Hence, the seven cults were established in what they soon split into seven different magical lands. The name of the planet was called Lonus. Atmospheric composition in planet Lonus is as normal as planet earth. Nevertheless, the living condition is as favorable as the region you find yourself. Depending on which weather condition you can adapt to, you can choose to dwell in any of the seven lands. The seven major cults in the seven different lands on planet Lonus are: The cult of sands in the desert, which is led by Zander the cruel; the cult of rocks in the mountains, led by James Eckrock; the cult of lava at the base of a volcano, Jonathan Jaydefire leads the cult; the cult of the ice in the frozen wastelands, led by Isiah Coldbone; Cyrus Thistlebark leads the cult of the forest, in the woodlands; the cult of the mist in the marshlands, Micah Mistbloom is the leader there; and the cult of the sea at the ocean fortress, led by Lucas Mistbloom. Micah and Lucas are brother and sister, but despise each other, due to an age long dispute.

  Different magical creatures have chosen different settlements as they desire, while the leader is chosen from among the majority by sorcery. In an instance where dwarfs are the majority and giants are in the minority, a dwarf will emerge as the leader of that nation and a dynasty is thus established.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  ABDUCTED

  “Is it possible to have a geomagnetic and geothermal power plant? There are have been geothermal power plants in recent times, but the obstacle of having a geomagnetic power plant is yet to be surmounted. However, Brimax is giving you the possibility of having both mechanisms in one plant- I present to you the max100." Mr. Bulk was addressing an audience of stakeholders and potential investors at the Brimax conference hall.

  A 3D representation of the plant appeared on a big screen.

  Mr. Bulk moved towards the big screen as he showed more slides.

  Max100 converts heat to electricity like every other geo thermally powered plants. Heat from the Earth, which is; geothermal — Geo (Earth) + thermal (heat) — energy is accessed by drilling water or steam wells in a process similar to drilling for oil. This is possible.

  However, is it possible to extract energy from the Earth’s magnetic field? The answer has always been no. Why? Static magnetic fields can’t transfer energy. For all practical purposes this is true, but in fact we also know that the earth’s magnetic field isn’t static. It changes from day to day and from year to year – and even second to second. The changes are small over small timescales, but in fact the magnetic poles do drift around and the solar wind does perturb the fields and so forth. A group of our scientists and technologists have come up with a solution and this is what makes max100 another milestone.

  Max100 plant has much in common with traditional power-generating stations. It uses many of the same components, including turbines, generators, transformers, and other standard power generating equipment. This animation shows a generic max100 plant.

  After the building of the now completed design of max100 commenced, Ethan felt it was time for him to finally leave Brimax Technologies. He will normally apply for a leave but now that he wants to resign, he seems to be at a loss, drafting a resignation letter. He wants to choose his words carefully; he wants to write a fantastic resignation letter...whatever that is. Probably because that was exactly how Bulk could describe his performance in designing max100- fantastic! And Ethan wants it that way; he wants to leave behind, a 'fantastic legacy'- industrious, brilliant and hardworking... sometimes. No matter what Bulk’s reservations are, he would always love to have Ethan work for Brimax. But unknowingly to him, Ethan had other plans.

  Ethan has been drafting a resignation letter for almost one hour now but later decided he should finish up, so he can get to Illinois, his grandparent’s comely abode before it gets dark. He has missed them a great deal; he will stay for a night and leave for the United Arab Emirates, Al Sofouh the following day. He smoothly creased the letter into an envelope and grabbed his already packed bag almost immediately. He made for the door after a second check around the apartment. He had packed few clothes, his boots and books, passport, hotel reservation and other travelling documents. He already has his flask, beddings, lamp, camcorder, and other camping stuffs in his back pack, which had been tucked away in his car trunk earlier. He got into the driver’s seat and drove out of the garage.

  Jessica scanned the living room uneasily, she must have missed Ethan on her way here, there were signs he just left the apartment. She had seen draft upon draft of resignation letter, scattered on the couch where Ethan had worked that morning, which she later disposed of. Some of his stuff was gone from the closet and bedroom too. "She didn't even ask where he was going to... Is he coming back soon? And why is he not picking her calls? Is he still crossed with her?" All these questions and more made her head pound. There was no Ethan to give answers to them. Yet she had to see him. She sank into a sofa and slept off.

  When she woke up she had missed several calls. Her heart skipped a beat, Ethan must have been calling her back...but he hasn't. It's Sarah, her friend and colleague from work. She tried dialing Ethan's number for the umpteenth time but Sarah's call came in again. "Hi Sarah, I'm sorry...I slept off. Did you find it?" Jessica inquired.

  "Yes... yes... It's exactly like I told you. You should come and see this." Sarah replied. "Alright
... alright, I'm on my way."

  Jessica decided to send Ethan a text message, before dropping the phone into her bag. She grabbed her coat and left.

  Sarah had told her ley lines are not just irregular land forms. "They have spiritual power and resonate a special psychic or mystical energy...

  "I know it sounds crazy but I've been doing some research about it for a while now. That explains why we've found those deposits around ley lines." Sarah had told her almost a week ago now.

  "Seriously…? You believe all this stuff? You can't base your theory on a myth..." Jessica said, looking at her as though she had lost her reasoning. "I think dragons are a grand classic of fantasy... that's all. How do you explain the fire breathing, what are the nutritional requirements for such mechanism?" Jessica argued. "How do you explain the aerodynamics of a big-sized animal with huge bat-like wings? If you are saying those samples could have belonged to a dragon, what of the other samples?" Jessica quizzed Sarah further, without waiting for her to answer the former.

  "Yes! Exactly my point, it’s most likely a dragon. It's not just some myth; renowned archeologists are investigating this possibility... The other samples could have belonged to some other magical creatures... elves or goblins..." Sarah said smiling broadly as though she gave an amazing speech and a deafening applause should follow. But Jessica was looking at her as if she just lost the last string of sanity.

  Therefore, Sarah had told her to come over to the library; she would show her through the works of some archeologists. John Michell's 'The view over Atlantic' and other books explain her believes. New Age occultists claim ley lines are sources of power or energy, which may be found around areas that induce magnetic field.

  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

  "Hey! Sweetie, my handsome punny has grown so big! "Mrs. Alger squealed.

  "C'mon Gran, you said so last year too. I can't remain your handsome punny Gran. You should get used to this bigger- handsome punny…" Ethan said as he approached the front porch where Mrs. Alger sat on an old cane chair, knitting a small apron with trembling hands.

  Ethan's grandparents own a house, a little bigger than a cottage. This little old place holds a lot of beautiful memories for Ethan. Mr. and Mrs. Alger are very simple, kind-hearted couples. Mr. Alger was the town sheriff before he retired to the farm settlement. As a little boy, Ethan admired his grandfather. He wanted to fight evil and advocate societal justice like his grandfather, but took another part entirely.

  He dropped the bags beside her cane chair, reached down and kissed his grandmother on her wrinkled temple. "Oh...Ethan, you brought these for me," she said excitedly, helping herself to the content of the bags.

  No... gran, they are for you and the sheriff."

  "C'mon, you come bearing gifts for a lady...not some old town sheriff... r-t-d... re-tired." Ethan lets out snort laughter, his chest vibrated.

  "Talking about the old town sheriff, where is he?" Ethan asked.

  "He is in the kitchen; preparing dinner... I made him cook." She said in a whisper as though he could be eaves dropping somewhere behind the door. "We should go inside," she added, folding her apron. Ethan helped her up and carried the bags into the living room. A simple living room; with an old scent that tells Ethan 'welcome home!' Ancient and beautiful art works were hung on the wall. Few furniture which included: a sofa and three other leather chairs, a shelf stocked with several books and materials, with a chair and desk at the side, which serves as Mr. Alger's study, a grand piano that belongs to his grandmother. Mrs. Alger used to hold music classes in this small living room and teach some others how to play the piano. Those classes have stopped since Gran isn't as agile as she used to be. But her love for music has not grown feeble, she still strikes the keys with shaky hands, humming old tunes, or a deep male voice will sing along.

  "The old town sheriff," Ethan said as he entered through a small entrance that leads to the kitchen.

  "Yea, my old boy…!" Grandpa Alger cried. He has always referred to Ethan has his old boy. Ethan will always be an intelligent boy with such a great mind to Mr. Alger. He has found a son he never had in his grandson. Henry, Ethan's father was never there or around when they needed him. Mr. Alger didn't see much of his son, till he saw him no more. Henry could be in his library for two weeks or more. He had been there, almost one year before- in and out. One cold morning, Grandpa Alger received the shocking news of his son, Professor Alger's demise. He had died mysteriously in a fire outbreak while working late in his office. Ethan's grandparents took him in because they loved him and they wanted him to grow up rightly and in a sound environment that a child should grow up in. But they also cherish the fact that his presence keeps their little home warm and drives loneliness away. They therefore could not hold back their joy when they saw their son again.

  "Gran drove you to the kitchen, didn't she?" Ethan asked, he deliberately wanted to hear his grandfather's side of the story.

  "Sure she did... she gave me one nasty dinner last night... and so I told her... not that I complained, I only told her that her cooking skills seem to be retiring faster than I thought. She then told me I was going to make dinner next time and we would see if I'm still as good as I used to be." Mr. Alger told his grandson in details. "I want to prove her wrong tonight; thank goodness... you came at the right time." He chuckled. "Women; wonderful creatures." He said, lifting his eyes off the steaks he was washing. He looked at Ethan, who was now putting the dirty bowls and utensils into the dish washer. He had brought in the dish washer about a year ago saying, "Gran, technology has made things pretty much easier... you know."

  Mr. Alger dropped the napkin after drying his hands and turned his full weight towards Ethan, a hefty man in his youth. "How is she?" He asked.

  "Who…?" Ethan asked, engrossed in what he was doing.

  "Jessica, of course," his grandfather answered him; he saw no reason for the question in the first place. There are only two women in Ethan's life; his Gran and Jessica. He barely knew his mother, only family photographs gave him whatever information he has about her.

  "Yeah... yeah, Jessica is good." Ethan said, avoiding his grandfather's eyes.

  "Something's wrong, huh?" Mr. Alger quizzed him further. He knows his 'old boy' well.

  "I'm leaving my job, I want to start something different, but Jessica thinks I should hold on. I think she's just being selfish." Ethan answered, his eyes slightly narrowed as he bit his lower lip.

  "You guys should talk things through, Jessica is a nice girl." Mr. Alger assured his grandson.

  "Oh! My phone! She must have been calling me..." Ethan lets out a squeak. He noticed his phone has not been with him since he arrived. He searched his pockets abruptly and dashed out of the door like hurriedly.

  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

  Jessica had parked her car in front of a grocery store where she gets her supplies. She decided to leave it there, because it's easier to drive out when she's done at the library. She walked sprightly across the busy road. The library is located on the next street, once she takes a turn around the bend. Approaching the bend she saw a shabbily dress stranger looking towards her direction, a few feet from where she was. Now she approached slowly, trying not to look at him. But she gave him one quick glance as she moved closer, he looked familiar, “I know you…” She confronted him, but the stranger wasn’t moving or speaking. What happened in England came back in a flash, he was the man who was standing there that day and was looking at her with the same awkwardness and strangeness. She couldn’t find him that day. “Could he have disappeared into thin air?” She thought, looking at the strange man quizzically.

  “You must come with me…my Lord seeketh... He has asked me to bring you… You must come with me!” The stranger said. He had an unfriendly, husky voice.

  “Who are you? Who is your Lord
…? This doesn’t make sense; you must have mistaken me for someone else. Please stop following or I will inform the police.” She threatened the odd looking man. He reached out and grabbed her by the hand in what seem like a split second and when Jessica let out a scream, she was doing so in Worcestershire, where they first met.

  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

  It's very late now, Ethan didn't want to eat the food his grandfather had prepared but his Gran had persuaded him to take a little. "And it's not as bad as a I expected it to turn out...the old sheriff's still got some charm in the kitchen." She had said. His grandfather could not hide his delight- his wife's comment elated him. But that only got him more days in the kitchen, and she added that she only said so to make Ethan eat something after a long trip.

  Ethan was barely eating his food or giving his grandparents any attention as he sat with them at the dining table, large enough to accommodate four people. The fourth chair is always unoccupied except when Ethan brings a friend home as a teenager. Last year, he had brought Jessica home to introduce her. Gran was very gladsome, how she loved the sight! When they sat around the table as one big family!