Auvreria Read online

  The Spring Garden

  April 17th, 2014

  Today was a beautiful day in the blooming Spring Garden. We were on a school field trip to study the evolution of plants. The spectrum of colors, from pastel to vibrant, gave me a sense of hope. The garden was petite and unique. The sun's reflection touched the polished surface of a pond and made it shine like a mirror. The warmth and glow from the skies passed through the trees and flowers, wafting their perfume. As the sun rose higher, the morning dew sparkled like little diamonds.

  Somehow I got separated from my group. I followed the golden rays behind the trees. From the blossoming garden I reached the broad woods and couldn't find my way back. I entered an arched opening leading to a bright cave filled with flowers. It was a hidden portal with a round marble slab bearing the mark of Auvreria: eight equidistant lines coming to a point. All the lines were connected by a circle. The swirling patterns resembled the Celtic styles I had seen once in a book. A small waterfall came from the side of the cave, and its waters encircled the symbol. It was like this symbol would never let me go.

  I looked into the sky and saw darkness filled with light. The now-familiar feeling came over me. The mark on my hand glowed, and I felt vibrations in my medallion. I took a step into the center of the circle. A high wind picked up. The water and flowers rose into the air and flowed around the symbol until a ray of light shone on the center. They spiraled inward. I knew that today my birthday would be special. Where would I go now? I hoped it would be a peaceful place. As I closed my eyes, I blended with the air.

  I opened my eyes. I was sitting on a stone circle inside a garden next to an enormous castle in ruins. A few trees remained among the lifeless plants and still-thriving vines along the ancient walls. The castle appeared to be medieval. Brown walls stretched in all directions. It was twilight, and three-leaf flowers glowed in the dark. I felt like I knew this place from my childhood dreams. This castle was abandoned and lost in time like me. It stood alone as a symbol of forgotten hope after destruction.

  I heard a melody played on a flute. It had a perfect pitch that sounded out of this world—well, out of Earth's world. The music sounded Celtic, and the melody made me imagine the journey of a hero who undertook all the challenges with hope for a better future. I wanted to follow the sound. I stood up and walked quietly in its direction. As I passed through the hallways, torches on the walls lit up by themselves, illuminating spider webs, cold stone, and decaying moss.

  I came to the roof of the castle, which offered a view of the surrounding lands: the gentle sea to the west, freezing mountain ranges to the north, valleys and forests to the east, and plains to the south. Rays of fading light lay upon the ranges, making the mountains seem larger. The contrast between light and dark had created beauty unlike any on Earth. Peach, orange, gold, silver, raspberry, and sapphire shifted across the lands. I turned my gaze from the landscape and saw an old man in a silver cloak playing the flute.

  The man's cloak moved with the wind. His white hair flowed, and his flute was made of shining silver. He looked about seventy. He sat on a narrow bench facing the sunset. I took one more step and cracked an old stick under my foot. The man stopped playing, stood up, and turned to face me.

  “Greetings, my granddaughter,” he said. “I finally see you after sixteen years. I have waited with your sister for the day you would come back from Aethra. We all have waited for you to free Arthaesia from sorrow. You have so much to learn of past events. I see Estrella has given you the medallion. Mortver’s army has reached these lands. Come, and I will tell you all you need to know.” He paused. “I almost forgot—I am Almag, the high minister of magic and knowledge.”

  In Almag's chamber of secret knowledge

  April 17th, 2014

  I followed Almag through the empty hallways. He stopped, turned to the left side of the hallway, and looked for something. He moved his hands on the rough rock until he located a stone with a small symbol that vibrated. “Go through the wall,” he said. “Do not worry; it will not hurt you.” I took a step towards the wall and froze. It still looked very solid. Trust yourself, a voice said sweetly, and you will overcome anything. Now I was really getting crazy, hearing voices that didn't exist. I took another step.

  I stepped into a massive library. Millions of books were lying on the shelves, tables, and chairs. The library was circular, with another symbol of Auvreria. A faint light shone from the stained glass. “Why is there daylight in here when it’s night?”

  Almag replied, “Well, I used the element of light to harness it to the top of the ceiling. I created the mosaic depicting the magnificent phoenix Estrella. Isn't it beautiful?” I turned my gaze from Almag to the ceiling. The bird's wings were as pretty as swan wings. Her head was like a falcon's, and she had the eyes of an eagle. Her gaze was noble but kind. The effect of light on the shades of gold behind her white wings gave me goose bumps. Was this the bird I kept seeing in my adventures?

  My thirst for answers overtook my thoughts. I had hoped Almag would provide them. I said, “This is not my first visit, Almag. I learnedthe history of Arthaesia from Mother Nature. She told me I was the chosen one, the child of Auvreria. She waited to see me before she left this world, and then she just disappeared. After that, Estrella appeared and gave me this mark on my right hand and the medallion. Then I returned to my world. So obviously, I have some questions.”

  “I know, I know,” replied Almag. “I see you have been present in the place that many of our ancestors tried to reach in their hunger for power. Let me tell you the history, starting with the world's birth. Our entire universe was created from one spirit, the dragon of the universe. Dragons in our legends symbolize the powerful forces of Auvreria. When the celestial dragon created everything, it also created the guardians. These guardians were the dragons of the eight elements. The symbol of Auvreria represents these eight elements surrounded by the universe, and yet they hold it together. The dragons of fire, water, earth, air, light, and darkness were sent to the Three Divisions of the universe to give knowledge to the first creatures. The other two dragons didn't reveal their powers. All we know is that they became the guardians of the Tree of Life, the magic portal between Arthaesia and the universe.”

  Almag continued. “The celestial dragon created good and evil so they would always remain in balance. The thirst for power established the evil one's goal: to rule the universe. The chiefs stayed in contact with one another to ensure that Arthaesia wasn't threatened by evil. This was a golden age. The clans worked together to create a beautiful culture. Their architecture, religion, economy, and literature flourished above all other lands. However, a golden age never lasts forever.

  “The evil in the land gathered together to form the undefeatable clan of Mortver. They found the secret valley where all dragons lived and destroyed it. The dragons couldn't escape. Mortver combined the magic and force of the six elements to destroy everything. They used the same technique with the eight chiefs. They took all their staffs to transfer all the power to the evil clan.

  “One mastermind arose from all the others, and his name was Maldelsoul. He became the supreme leader of Mortver and was the one who planned the attack. Maldelsoul and his magicians became immortal with the energies of the staffs. Maldelsoul stormed into Arthaesia's Great Castle and took the throne by violence, and so the new age began.”

  “Did anything valuable from Auvreria itself get stolen? What happened to the previous king and his family?”

  “Maldelsoul took one of the medallions from Arthaesia's treasury. The noble family that ruled Arthaesia was sent to the Northlands to freeze. Your sister came with them to escape the brutal fights with his magicians.”

  “Is she okay? Did Maldelsoul do anything hurtful to her?”

  “He turned her into a white dragon when she came to rescue you. She was too young to take on a powerful magician like him. She is in the Northlands, captured in one of Mortver’s traps. We have stayed in contact all these years; however
, my age prevented me from freeing her.”

  “What happened next after Maldelsoul seized the Great Castle of Arthaesia?”

  “Maldelsoul did not stop there. He left the Great Castle in ruins and conquered all the land to find the Tree of Life. He would use the great tree to satisfy Mortver's goal. Arthaesia has fought him for ten centuries. Right now you stand in what remains of the Great Castle.”

  Things made more sense now. He continued. “Mother Nature, the third guardian of the Tree of Life, gave us hope that we could win against Mortver. Now that she has died, you are the only one left who might help us finally win this endless war.”

  I couldn't take it all in. “I’ve never been important in my life, to anyone. And now you’re saying I have to save the universe? I can't! I have never been good at anything! Sorry, you’ve got the wrong chosen one. I am not who you think I am. I'm an ordinary girl—I need to be left alone...” I ran away through the winding halls of the library.

  Almag's Library, the mystery of the past and the key to the future

  April 18th, 2014

  I ran through the narrow halls filled with ancient books. One hallway led into another room beautifully decorated with marble. I sat down on a bench near a table with more books. I stopped crying—all my energy had gone into running. I examined the volumes. All the titles had strange spellings, but I was able to read them if I focused my mind. I grabbed a book at random; the title was something like The Map of the Sky. I opened the book. It flew out of my hands into the air, levitated near me, and started to spin very fast.

  Rays of sapphire, amethyst, amber, jade, ruby, and diamond appeared. Sparkling dust swirled. The specks of color emerged as galaxies, celestial bodies, and individual stars. I walked through the galaxies and saw different and more complex patterns that revealed the cosmos. In the center was a small dot among the three main galaxies. What could it be?

  The spinning book came to a stop and floated to the floor. I picked it up and put it in its place. I wanted to know what had happened to my parents. If Almag was my grandfather, he would know. I left the beautiful library and found him reading a book and waving his hand in circles. “It is always wise,” said Almag, “to wave your hand in a clockwise direction.”

  “Do you think I will ever be able to create magic?”

  “If you really try, my granddaughter.”

  “What happened to my parents?”

  “Oh, child, they were the noble guardians of Arthaesia who protected it during the new age. They protected the family of Clarein from Mortver. One night, this cost them their lives.”

  “Was this the night when Maldelsoul took the throne?”

  “Yes, Mortver planned an attack against the royal family. That day was the beginning of the new era. Mortver located the magicians in the four corners of the castle. While you were sleeping, your parents were on guard. Suddenly, out of the sky came four balls of blasting energy created out of the united elements. Your parents and another two magicians gave their lives to stop the approaching disaster. I hurried to your room to take you away; however, the tower was destroyed. I couldn't save your sister—she was turned into a dragon. I used my connection with your sister to find you. You were in the other corner of the universe named Aethra, or Earth. You had used your gift to teleport to another world. Estrella helped you find a family and become a human in their world.”

  All those old memories of being in a forest looking at a bird like an angel—those were real. They were memories, not dreams. My “parents” had enlisted doctors to convince me otherwise until I gave up on them. A fog of darkness enveloped me, and I saw nothing.

  The Great Castle of Arthaesia, a confrontation that almost took my life

  My birthday

  I appeared on the castle rooftop. Dark clouds cast a green shadow on the mountains. I heard clashing sounds of metal and footsteps. I didn't know how I’d got here. I was scared and reacted to every subtle sound. The dark mist still surrounded me. I heard a loud bang. Something landed on the roof with the force of thousands of elephants. I turned around. It was a black dragon with a rider. The dragon's fierce eyes stared into mine. Its body was bigger than a humpback whale. Its skin resembled a snake’s. The dragon had horns on its head, spine, and tail. I couldn't see the rider in the obscuring mist.

  Soldiers wearing black uniforms came running through the castle. I couldn't even hide behind a rock—the dragon still held my gaze. I felt so much tension in my gut that I wanted to scream. The rider dismounted. At a motion of his hand, the mist disappeared. He took off his hood, and now I could see him. He looked to be middle-aged; his skin was unbelievably white, and his eyes were pure black. His hair lay perfectly over his shoulders. He examined me too until he found what he was looking for.

  “Child of Auvreria,” he said in a haunting voice, “what a coincidence I should find you while taking over these lands that fell a long time ago into ashes. You look like your parents, and you have the second medallion of the three galaxies. Where is the third? I know it’s in your world. Where is it, you foolish girl? If Almag is still here in these rotten walls, my soldiers will bring him, and I will find out all of your secrets. Excuse me for my rudeness—my name is Maldelsoul, the conqueror and mastermind of all of the known elements.”

  I was struck with fear and filled with questions again. Maldelsoul wore the same medallion, but the eight holes in his were filled with small gemstones. What three galaxies? I felt like a small, helpless animal caught in a trap. I couldn't believe that this person standing in front of me had destroyed my parents, Arthaesia, and the eight dragons. “Why did you do all of this? Can't you have mercy on Almag and the surviving people of Arthaesia? Why do you make everybody suffer?”

  “Why? I deserve all the power! All these people think they can share it and do good deeds, but they just kill themselves by taking risks for their loved ones. They call that love,” he sneered.

  “Love saves many more lives than it loses.”

  “Look what happened to your parents. They took the risk knowing they would never see their children grow up in this harsh world. The resistance, the Clamoor Clan, is just killing more of its weak soldiers fighting me. What remains of Arthaesia takes risks against my undefeatable power and gets nothing in return.”

  “They are fighting for their future. They need these lands to live a healthy life. A true king would go to war for his people and not against them. Can’t you understand?”

  “You are part of their feeble hope. A joke—the girl who didn’t even grow up in this world, who never knew our past, and she thinks she can defeat me? See the ring on my right hand?” He threw a ring to me, and I caught it. “I will give you the other one to protect your life when your magic's intensity might kill you. But you know all of this—why am I saying it? Prepare for a magic duel that will lead one of us to death.”

  I opened my palm to show the ring. It was made of pure gold and platinum. Two lines intertwined to form a spiral. Within the braid was carved out a pattern like a dragon’s scales. My thoughts were clouded; I was a soft rose petal in the middle of a forest fire. I heard loud footsteps. Almag arrived, worn out and surrounded by soldiers. Maldelsoul turned his attention on him. At least I would have a few moments to live...

  “Almag,” said Maldelsoul with a grin. “Very glad to see you. It’s been years, centuries, even. You now will witness your pathetic granddaughter’s attempt to destroy me to free all of Arthaesia. You are now the only stone in my path to glory, child of Auvreria. Prepare for battle!”

  “No, stop!” I screamed. “This is unfair—I don't know magic! I never knew it existed for real. Please let me go!” With every word I took a step back until I’d reached the end of the roof. I froze. I looked at Almag, who could barely stand. Maldelsoul began to summon the six elements into one spiraling ball and threw it at me. I closed my eyes.

  I heard the ball change direction. I opened my eyes to see it flying back to Maldelsoul. He stopped it in time, but I saw how the effort mad
e him weak. He closed his eyes for one moment in pain and weakness. At the same time, Almag lost consciousness and slumped in the arms of the soldiers. “You see what happens when you take risks for your loved ones,” Maldelsoul said calmly. “All their hope lies with you, yet you won't see the sun rise again.”

  Maldelsoul tried a different, less risky way to end my life. He made delicate hand motions to join the element of darkness with light. The new force emanated energy I could feel from where I was standing. He wouldn't miss a second time.... I couldn't close my eyes this time. I felt that now-familiar magical feeling inside as Maldelsoul let go of his creation. The force sent me backwards over the edge of the roof. Parts of the rooftop were flying around me. The specks of stone became specks of magic, which rotated around me until everything became filled with light. I wondered where I would go next. I felt relief in the light, but I knew it wouldn’t last forever.

  In the eternal ice, Northlands

  It's still my birthday

  I opened my eyes. I was lying on snow. I looked up to see a beautiful landscape of mountains, ice, and the night sky. There was a light shower of snow. I remembered a poem I wrote in my childhood. It started like this, “Every snowflake a masterpiece, crafted differently. Every snowflake a musical note, together an orchestral storm.”

  The light snow sparkled with the stars above. The colossal mountains stood over the horizon covered in white dust. The clouds drifted away from the sky to reveal an elegant, crystalline moon. The wind picked up the snow, the stars shone brighter, and a white dragon flew above the mountains. I never saw such beauty in my life. I never imagined that there was something as beautiful in this universe. I saw the dragon fly downward in my direction.

  The dragon landed a few feet away from me. Its warm breath, elegant skin, and noble bearing impressed me. Its amber eyes glowed with happiness. It was smaller than Maldelsoul's dragon but still a big one. No veins showed through the white skin. I was amazed at how a dragon could look so delicate and yet so strong and noble. Its silver claws and horns were polished. I felt a connection with it.