Journey to Yesod

Art drawn by: Bintang Hamal

Written by: Hunter Ake

Edited by: Lilliana Steele and Dee Dee Davis

Chapter 4 (Part 1)

Quadect 18^th, 1258

              “Are you sure we can go this way, Zenebe?” asked Dulani. 

             “Yes, I have an idea and it’s all thanks to you.” replied Zenebe. He admired his new arcane staff, and he felt his magic course through the wood. Sook admired her dagger as they walked. She was always fascinated by metallurgy; just something about the way people could bend materials like stone and metal to their whims. She pondered if it’s the same  way Zenebe manipulates water. 

             Dulani watched the others enjoying their new toys, “You two are far too easy to entertain,” she chided. Sook looked up from her dagger as the group reached their destination. Through the tree line, the trio walked out onto a beach of black sand. The sand crunched beneath their steps and broke apart in clumps with each impactful footfall. Sook made a confused face and sniffed the air. It had the faintest scent of ash.

             “Ah, we have finally arrived!” Zenebe was ecstatic, it had been many moons since he last visited the edge of the world. “You two should rest and enjoy the sand, I will need to practice this for a little while,” Zenebe said as he continued inspecting his staff. Sook wasted no time and threw off her baggy clothes. Zenebe wasn’t looking but Dulani, flustered by Sook’s boldness, quickly dug around in the group traveling pack and handed over Sook’s swimsuit she picked up at Banaka. Sook swiftly changed into it while Dulani hid in the tree line to change into her own bathing suit.

             Zenebe closed his eyes and focused his magic through the arcane staff. The cracks in the wood glowed with a bright blue light as Zenebe stepped toward the surf. The water parted as he stepped further and further into the ocean; the water’s edge widened and grew taller. Zenebe made it about knee deep into the ocean when his concentration was suddenly broken. 

             “Cannonball!” Sook shouted as she leapt over his head and came crashing down into the water creating a large wave that washed over his arcane barrier. It shattered his hold on the element which subsequently cascaded around his legs. Zenebe heaved a deep sigh and looked down at his soaked boots before looking at Sook who just smiled and laughed. 

              “For once, she’s getting on your nerves instead of mine,” Dulani stood on the beach in her black two piece, the veiled cover-up hanging off of her hip. Zenebe let it go and removed his boots, setting them next to Sook’s towel before heading back in to try again. Sook didn’t go too far, even in her human form she wasn’t the best swimmer. This time, Zenebe did much better with his magic; shutting his eyes tight and focusing on the sensation of using his staff as a medium. The ocean welled up to the crown of his head and it felt effortless. His curiosity got the better of him and he opened his eyes to see the wall of water all around him. In awe of his own creation, he lost his concentration yet again. The wall came crashing down on him, drenching his robes. His staff was nearly ripped from his hand by the strength of the waves and he fought to keep his head from being fully submerged. Dulani laid on her towel, sunbathing and laughed as she watched Zenebe lumber back to the beach, drenched and clearly irritated.

             Sook opened the community bag and pulled out a pair of swimtrunks for Zenebe, “I bought these for you back in Banaka!” Zenebe sighed, callously dropped his staff next to Sook, grabbed the shorts and walked off toward the treeline to change. 

             “You bought him trunks?” Dulani asked with evident distaste.

             “Well, it didn’t feel right for us to buy some and leave him out!” 

             Zenebe returned in white swimming shorts that were a clear size too small and stood there awkwardly. 

             Dulani was unable to hide her amusement, “Pfft, that does not suit you at all. Are those… pink hearts?” 

             Sook desperately tried to save face, “I- I think it looks good on you Zenebe!” Zenebe simply grabbed his staff and went back to the water to keep practicing. “Dulani! I thought he would like them!” Dulani laughed and leaned back on her towel to watch the clouds while she bathed in the warmth of the sun. Sook rolled over onto her stomach and buried her face on her arms to catch the rays. 

             The day wore on as Dulani and Sook sunbathed and talked while Zenebe continued training with his staff. Finally, during golden hour, Zenebe strode up the cracking sand; his canvas trunks made a harsh shuffling sound as the dry material rubbed against itself. “I did it! I managed to make it all the way across the channel!” 

             “Wow! I must say, I’m impressed.” Dulani effused with dry sarcasm. 

             “That’s amazing Zenebe!” Sook jumped up to her feet.

             Zenebe responded bluntly, “So now we can get across without the need of a vessel. And we won’t have to make the multi-day excursion to the East in order to cross overland.” 

             Sook looked over at the far shore, “So where are we going next?” 

             Zenebe kneeled down and rummaged through his bag, pulling out a map of the region, “So, as you can see, we are on this northern portion of the peninsula, Alkebuv. Across this thin part of the Mediridian Channel is the southern portion of Uvulope. More specifically, the very religious country of Ydalia. 

             Sook stared unblinking at the map, before ceding, “Uhh, gotcha! Thank you.” 

             Dulani scoffed at Sook, “We will need to find something important in Ydalia’s capital. Luckily for you two, I know where it is. I trust that you will be able to find your uncle yourself, Zenebe. Now then, we should be going before nightfall. We’re putting our lives in your hands, hydrosophist. Please don’t let us down or I’ll place a curse on your descendants.” 

             Zenebe looked up from the map and met her piercing gaze. He offered a silent, but solemn, nod, “I know and I will keep you two safe. I promise.”

             The trio changed back into their usual attire and hauled their packs down the beach and toward the waves. Dulani and Sook stood close together directly behind Zenebe. 

             “Stay close to me and keep your arms at your sides.” Zenebe took everything that he had learned from practice and put it into action by focusing his magic through the wood staff. Despite using his magic all day, Zenebe wasn’t exhausted. Once again, the ocean parted as Zenebe and the two women walked forward into the channel. Further and further they walked until the walls were above their heads. Soon, the water formed into a bubble as they continued at a steady pace. Sook and Dulani looked in wonder at the sea life all around them. The floor of the channel was soft under their boots; by this point they were so deep underwater they could barely see the sunlight poking through the surface overhead in the distance. The floor began sloping back up, they were past the deepest part and approaching the other side. Nobody had said a word since they went under in fear of disrupting Zenebe. The rays of light grew in intensity as they closed the distance. Sook continued to marvel at this one-of-a-kind experience.

             Suddenly, Dulani’s muscles tensed at the presence of something huge looming in the depths behind her. She turned back to see a massive murky shadow in the distance. The hulking figure was undulating through the darkness. Dulani couldn’t tell if it was moving toward them, but panic welled up in her chest. Dulani was close on the heels of her companions. She was unable to take her eyes off the water behind them, as if vigilance would be enough to save them. Zenebe and Sook were completely unaware. When they breached the surface, Dulani lost sight of the shadow. They were safe, but she had no desire to go back in the ocean for the rest of her days. At least so long as she had a choice in the matter.

             Zenebe panted as he released his magic channeling, “That… was… harder than before.” 

             Sook picked him off the ground, squeezing him in an excited bear hug, “But you did it! That was amazing! I had never seen so many creatures before!!” Dulani was still shaken by the near-death experience, but she was thrust into another one when a soldier, clad in plate armor, crashed into the sand beside them. After the soldier fell, an arrow engulfed in flames, pierced the chest plate and set the grunt ablaze. Sook immediately stepped in front of Zenebe, hesitating to transform and drawing her dagger. She fumbled with the dagger after drawing it and scanner the cliff tops before her in order to see what was going on.

             A glorious figure was engaged in battle with several other armored figures on the top of the cliff. The glorious figure was clad in golden armor and white fabric, gleamed in the dying light of day. The person’s snow white wings on their lower back, flapped to  keep the figure stationary and airborne. They drew their bow and let another arrow fly, perforating a smaller armored being through the chest. That body instantly burst into flames. One of the armored figures leapt off the cliffside onto the beaches in front of the adventurers. The sight of its necrotic skin sent shivers through the group. The metal-plated corpse raised its sword arm. Sook, in turn, raised her dagger to block, but it was knocked out of her hand. Dulani deflected the next swing toward Sook when the winged figure barreled down onto the assailant shoving their short sword all the way through; pinning the necrotic soldier to the ground. The assailant’s limbs, limp after being stabbed, burst back to life. Its arms convulsed and contorted in unnatural directions; furiously attempting to swing its weapon into anyone it could. 

             “These monsters are resilient and have to be dealt with resolutely,” the figure curtly explained. Then the angel’s sword burst into flames and the body was torched beyond recognition until it finally stopped moving.

             Another lumbering enemy slammed into the sand behind the angel. Dulani threw a chakram, slicing right through the assaulant’s neck. Their helmet landed in the sand with a thud while the body continued stumbling around. “Ugh, these things are unnerving. What the hell are they?” 

             The angel spun around, igniting his sword. The last few threats shambled through the sand with their weapons drawn. The angel dashed forward, using his wings to propel himself. The flaming sword sliced through the attackers in a gracefully efficient arc. Their armor was melted where the blade met the steel. The threats collapsed onto the sand in six pieces with a sickening gurgle. The angel stood straight on the beach, exhaling in relief as the flames slowly died in a curl of smoke. They spread their wings, presenting a dashing figure that radiated in the light of the sunset. He turned to face the group and removed his helmet. 

          Long dark curly hair fell down his shoulders; the angel’s tanned skin was smooth with soft, androgynous features. “Hello travelers, I am Pirouz, a soldier in the Ydalian army.” 

          Zenebe offered his hand, “Well met, Pirouz. We appreciate the assistance.” 

          Pirouz shook Zenebe’s hand and then shifted his steely gaze over toward the other two, “I must say, I lured the thralls to this area to deal with them without fear of collateral damage. I never expected three people to rise from the sea.” 

          Zenebe laughed softly, “Yes, we were traveling to Uvolope and we decided to simply go straight through the ocean, rather than find a way to go over it.” 

          Pirouz’ eyes lit up, “That is incredible! I’ve rarely seen water manipulation magic. It is quite fascinating.” 

          Dulani immediately cut in, “You called those things, “thralls.” Who, or what, are they?”

          Pirouz’ expression shifted to a much more solemn one, “I don't know their true nature… my apologies. I truly wish I could say more. These attacks have been going on for weeks now and it is causing chaos in our country. Is Ydalia your destination or are you just passing through?” 

             Dulani responded, “Ydalia is our current destination, but we also intend to move on after we visit the capital.” 

             Pirouz’ expression seemed to lighten a little, “Well, you’ve seen how tough it is to put these monsters down. All I ask is that you be careful as you travel. I must return to my regiment. I’m sure another cell of thralls has already begun causing problems elsewhere. I must take leave now.” 

          The newcomers watched as Pirouz put his helmet back on and took flight; disappearing into the lengthening dusk.

          “Well, welcome to Uvolope, I guess,” Dulani mused. 

          Sook took a look at the empty pieces of armor left scattered on the beach, “So strange, their bodies just disappeared.” 

          The whole situation put Zenebe on edge, “Whatever entity created these thralls, I don’t want to meet them. It’s gotten dark. I think we should climb up that cliff and set up camp for the night.” 

          Dulani, Sook and Zenebe sat around the warm, comforting fire that offered a brief reprieve, but none could shake the fear that gripped them. Dulani took the first shift; staying awake while Sook and Zenebe slept. Between the thralls and that massive shadow in the water, Dulani felt more vulnerable than she had in a long, long time. Her mind wandered. She wondered where her sister was that night. Was she looking up at the same night sky that Dulani was? Was she safe; safer than Dulani at least? Dulani looked over at her two allies, sleeping soundly by the fire and she felt a tad more secure.