Auvreria Read online

  I dropped into the world of my dreams. There was only darkness until a faint, thin light shone. The same voice that I had heard in Maldelsoul's castle said, Come and find me.

  Where can I find you? In dreams?

  No, I am located in the parallel realities of the universe. Follow a gate to darkness that reveals light and knowledge. See the reflection of yourself. The reflection will show you how you see yourself. You will enter; however, you may not leave if your reflection proves to be wrong. Your path will lead you to unexpected journeys and ancient secrets in your soul.

  From the darkness a gray beach appeared. It was night.looked to the horizon: two mountains extended to form a bay. The moonlit waters flowed gracefully, and the stars and planets were scattered like colorful pebbles across the sky. I sat on the sand while a cool breeze blew. I looked into the glowing depths of the heavens.

  Soft clouds circled me until I appeared in another world. I sat on a rock next to a cherry tree. I was high in the mountains overlooking the infinite ocean of the clouds. The sun rose from them. I observed my palms in the approaching light. They had two Auvreria marks that glowed with a blue hue. I examined my medallion. The arrow stopped moving. I was here in the place of one of the pieces of Cielune. The sun shone bright with golden rays. The brightness forced me to close my eyes.

  The Battle of Maglor, Crossroads of the Valleys

  May 14th, 2014

  Time passed, and I opened my eyes. I was back in the camp I had made on the soft grass. Everyone was sleeping. I decided to go outside for some fresh air. The morning breeze spread along the leaves. Sun shone on the grass, and there was a scent of fresh herbs and dew. The mountains of the north stood majestically overlooking Arthaesia. Birds sang their songs to the woods. The mist faded with the darkness. I saw a figure sitting on a boulder.

  It was a man in a navy cloak outlined with silver. He sat placidly, like a stone that had passed through thousands of ages. I looked at my medallion. The arrow pointed to him. The man said, “Arthaesia had its days. Noble wars were fought, legends were told, and there were journeys throughout other kingdoms. The heavens respected us, the warriors and knights fought side by side, and compromises were made. Knowledge was revealed from the ancient era. Our success fell into forgotten ashes when Mortver came. Nations were devastated, epidemics spread, and betrayal became commonplace.” He turned around. He had a nose shaped like an eagle's, eyes blue like ice, and hair in golden curls.

  I asked, “Who are you? What do you need from me?”

  “I am Orenelius. Do not be afraid; I am an old friend. You have grown and changed, Anelia. Maldelsoul transformed you into a shivering, helpless animal. What a monster!”

  “It’s all right. Luck is on my side. I always get help at the last second before certain death. I don't really believe my magic can be more powerful than Maldelsoul’s.”

  “So, you do not believe in your magic that was given to you by your loved ones? Let us have a fair duel in the art of magic. I know the others will wake, you will set off to the Crossroads of the Valleys, and so on....”

  “How do you know all this? Whoa!” I dodged a sudden wave of water. I threw a hot spiral of fire. He blocked it with the opposite element. I tried to use the element of air to blow him away, but he used this as a chance. I was engulfed in a box of solid rock and blew it open with the wind. His methods of attacking and countering were similar to mine.

  “Do not stress over your attacks. Keep your defenses up!” I flew into the air and crossed my hands. From one came light, from the other came darkness. Orenelius focused on the light and could not see his surroundings because of the dark. Using the earth element I tied him up in plants. The darkness and light faded. He closed his eyes, and the plants diffused into the air. He said, “Good fighting. If we had more time, I could have taught you my tricks.”

  “We have a few more minutes. Did you know my parents, the guardians of Arthaesia? I want to learn as much as I can about them before I return to Aethra after the end of the war of the universe. There is so much I don't know.”

  “As I said, your parents were among the greatest heroes in Arthaesia. They led battles and journeyed beyond the boundaries of written maps. When they had Aurora, news spread of a new generation of protectors. She grew up in a safe environment, or so we thought. Mortver grew stronger every time they won their battles with royalty. All the people helped, complex strategies were planned, and yet it was all useless. Nothing could assuage their hunger for power. After your birth, we had hope. Aurora protected you at all times. On the day Maldelsoul took the throne, Arthaesia fell. Your parents gave all—they made the noble choice like heroes.”

  “Well, I didn't. I ran away in fear. I will never be a hero like them.”

  “You will, child. You have to keep fighting in this battle, and all the prophecies of glory will come true. Remember the glory of your parents, remember Arthaesia, and remember your heritage.” He faded with the night mist. His cape vaporized into tiny droplets of water. I sat on the boulder for a while observing the sky in wonder. Clouds moved and coalesced into different patterns. Out of the emerald forest came Aurora, Clarimie, and other people from the clan.

  “Greetings,” said Clarimie. “We have spoken to the Clamoor Clan in the Crossroads of the Valleys through Aurora's telepathy. They will meet us in a few days. We should leave now.”

  We left camp with packed supplies. Walking all day through the distant landscape was tiring. Aurora walked beside me. Did anything happen to you?

  Nothing terrible happened. I met this magician who claimed to be our parents’ friend. We had a magic duel, and he told stories about the old ages of Arthaesia. He vanished before you came. I don't think I am going to meet him again.

  What is his name? He could be one of the survivors of the magic clan like Almag.

  I don’t remember. It sounded peculiar. Aurora grumbled.

  We came to a clearing. I saw in the distance a wide valley with the tents of the Clamoor Clan and many roads leading out. There were sounds of clashing metal, and suddenly, everyone was attacked. Swords and cries slashed through the air. I tried to get a look at the group from Mortver. There were forty warriors and magicians in long black garments. Some transformed into wild beasts. Others cast magic spells. Clarimie, with a motion of her elegant sword, wounded one of them. The unconscious warrior had a red mark—Mortver's symbol. Six arrows spread out from a point, connected by savage lines.

  I felt pressure on my mind. It was Maldelsoul trying to reach me. I screamed in pain. Aurora roared. I gathered all my energy and ran with my elven sword to fight for the Clamoor Clan. Groups of soldiers attacked me. I tried to close my eyes out of shock while I killed and slashed with my thin blade. From the sky flew an enormous black dragon with other small winged creatures and their riders. They shot at us with poison arrows. One-third of the Clamoor Clan was killed instantly. Maldelsoul’s dragon glided down and shot black fire at the soldiers.

  I noticed Clarimie on the ground with an arrow stuck in her left arm. She held it with her right hand. Several experienced magicians came closer to her. Fensagenia and I immediately ran to her. Fensagenia protected me when the other soldiers attacked. I got tired of swinging my sword, so I used the elements of earth and air. The group used all the elements together. Before I could retreat, Aurora killed them from the back with her fire. She pushed her massive wings to the sky towards the black dragon.

  Fensagenia had to remove the arrow while Clarimie screamed in pain. I put my hand on the red-stained arm. I imagined the first day of school when the butterfly healed me and partially healed the wound. I looked at Clarimie hopelessly. The Clamoor Clan was already tired from traveling, and now we had to fight with a mere chance for survival.From the grasslands came the magician I had met in the morning. He knelt beside Clarimie. “I will take all of them at once.”

  “What if you get killed? I cannot let more people die . I don’t know what to do.”

  “Forget your fears! Trust me.
Trust yourself.”

  Maybe he was right. I nodded to him. The magician focused on the group. He used his staff to shape Auvreria’s symbol with pure light. The people and bodies from the group of Mortver disappeared with the light. The magician put his blue hood on, completely obscuring his face.

  The whole place fell to a dead silence. Aurora landed a few moments later. Lord Mediel quickly wrapped Clarimie’s arm with clean strips of clothing. I observed the fallen bodies of the Clamoor Clan. Fensagenia came to me, saddened.

  “I’ve known some of these people since I joined the Clamoor Clan. They helped me raise my first sword. Some offered warm shelter when there was a cold winter. Others were my teachers.”

  I looked away from the terrible scene. I never knew battles were this dreadful. According to Arthaesia’s tradition, the noble warriors were buried where their last battle occurred. We buried our comrades till sunset. The humble magician helped us.

  Clarimie came out of a small tent. Her left arm was in a sling. She calmly walked to the magician.

  Clarimie said, “We are in your debt. You saved our lives. We would like to know the name of the one who saved us.”

  “I would not reveal my name yet, for there are secrets that should not be exposed.”

  “Why did you save us?” I asked. “It wasn't worth your life to join this battle.”

  “I fought for personal reasons,” he said. “Because you trusted me with this fight, I will give you this ancient stone. Trust is far more important than risking death. I must leave. We will see each other when all rises like the ancient eras.” He handed me a rough brown stone and closed my fingers over it, just before the currents of wind washed him away to the sublime skies.

  The stone resembled the stone of Cielune. I spoke one word in my mind, Cielune, and it shone brightly. I opened my hands, and there lay the second stone. It was a smooth oval, transparent, but if you looked closely you could see the reflection of galaxies. I put the second stone in another pocket apart from the first one.

  “We have to continue our journey,” said Clarimie. “We are closer than we thought. To honor the courage of our people, I shall proclaim this day as the Battle of Maglor.”

  Through the battle-scarred land, along the paths travelers and soldiers had followed, we reached the Crossroads of the Valleys. The heavens were painted in soft, pastel colors. The massive mountains remained dark shadows. We walked so long my feet began to ache. During this time I took the opportunity to study the stones. Their power was incredible. One levitated toward the sky; Aurora caught it before it flew out of reach.

  Upon a small hill, at last we saw the grounds of the true, powerful Clamoor Clan.

  Crossroads of the Valleys, Silvius and Magdalion

  May 14th, 2014

  The camp stretched several miles. This was the place where real battle preparation occurred. At the sight of it, I felt a renewed hope that Arthaesia might rise again. We passed majestic tents. Warriors, men and women, wore golden armor and sharp weapons. Battle chariots passed. Victory hymns and battle drums filled the air.

  We entered a guarded tent as wide as Maldelsoul's tower filled with tables, papers, and maps. Fine rugs covered the floor. Two lords greeted us. Lord Silvius had golden robes, blond hair, and green eyes. Lord Magdalion had dark hair and eyes and silver garments. Silvius spoke first. “I greet you from the depths of my heart. We will fight together as one, for none shall break our alliance.”

  Magdalion greeted us next. “A pleasure of a thousand battles won, I am pleased to meet you. Welcome to the heart of the Clamoor Clan.”

  Clarimie made our greetings and said, “We should start talking about our plan; the time is short. This is Lord Mediel, healer and strategist. This is Fensagenia, leader of a group of young warriors. Outside is Aurora, the mighty dragon, and this is Anelia, our hope for victory.”

  “How interesting,” said Silvius. “I will not waste our time with conclusions. Magdalion, show them our plans.”

  Magdalion motioned for a map in the center. It was marked with symbols representing elements of battle. The map looked like an antique. “We have several options for winning this war. First, we could move our soldiers to the northern woods, where they could attack Mortver's supplies. Second, we could use our naval force to unite the cities near the coast to increase our power.”

  “Wait,” I said. I looked at the arrow in the medallion. It pointed east, toward the Sea of Irialn. Beyond that were unexplored waters. “What if some of us were left here to fight on land, and the others came with me to Port Archalypsis? We would set sail for the Sea of Irialn. Maldelsoul might believe we stopped here.”

  “It could be hard to travel with a dragon,” said Silvius. “I will have my best magicians try to transform Aurora to a human. They will need you, Anelia, for you and Aurora have a spiritual connection.”

  “We will plan our departure to Port Archalypsis.” He smiled at me. “You have a great plan for a beginner. We will need you to transform Aurora before night.”

  I left the tent with Aurora and sat on a log next to the fire. Aurora lay on the grass. Food was served to the accompaniment of music and dance. I pondered how I could transform Aurora back. I studied my medallion. Eight lines led to a center: two vertical, two horizontal, and the rest diagonal. The outer points of the lines were connected with a circle.

  The magicians from the Clamoor Clan in their brown robes arrived and bade me follow with Aurora. We entered a very large tent full of lit candles. Other magicians sat meditating. Aurora stood in the center of the inscribed circle on the floor. The magicians formed a circle around her. I saw symbols on the walls that looked awfully similar to Mortver's mark. This ritual was not right. I tried to tell the magicians they were doing the wrong magic. They chanted, and I felt dizzy. I did not feel the balance I felt when I focused on Lumifale. Aurora lay there with closed eyes, barely breathing. I didn’t know what to do, but I couldn’t let my sister die like this.

  The voice came back. Save her. You cannot live your lives without each other. Remember the balance of the elements and their connections to one another. Give your energy for Aurora's life. Do not let her go.

  I gathered my strength and opened my palms. Blue light shone. The symbol of Auvreria surrounded me in the form of a golden sphere. My strong will to heal Aurora overcame all the shields of the magicians. They stopped chanting and tried to stop me. I radiated neon light and concentrated my energy on her. Auvreria, heal those who were forced from their destinies. Please, I give everything for the love of my sister.

  Aurora roared as she shone with pure light. Energy flowed back and forth. Her body became smaller until she transformed into a human. We both fell to the floor. She was dressed in white robes. Her amber eyes glowed, and her skin and hair were as white as her dragon skin. A small mark of Auvreria appeared on her forehead. She looked at me with gratitude and fell unconscious. The magicians carried her to her room.

  I ran back to the central tent. As I entered, I exclaimed, “Aurora has transformed back to her normal self!”

  Clarimie said, “This is great news! How long do you think she will be in human form?”

  “I think about a week.”

  “This will give us time to reach Port Archalypsis. For now, you may go to your tent—you have outdone yourself.” I thought Fensagenia would come too, but she was really into the battle plans and strategies being taught by the lords. I explored the grounds until I found my tent. Once in my sleeping clothes on the soft bed, I fell asleep without hesitation. Sweet dreams, Anelia, I said to myself.

  The Clamoor Clan, the departure

  May 16th, 2014

  When I awoke, morning light was streaming through my tent. Dressed in my elven clothing, I went looking for a new sword. I knew I had to have a better one than my rusty sword from the training grounds. Some had more power, others were easier to handle, and they were all new. One that appealed to my senses was elegant and thin, white, and bore nature-based patterns. I swung it ar
ound carefully. It slashed through the air perfectly.

  Battle drums sounded, loud and clear. Clarimie, Fensagenia, Magdalion, a group of soldiers, and Aurora were waiting outside the main pavilion. Aurora was dressed in beige traveling clothes. She looked about twenty-six years old. Her long white hair was in a bun, and her body radiated a faint light. I wasn’t able to transform her fully; Maldelsoul's spell was too strong. I couldn't believe how powerful he was. His curse had been in effect for sixteen years. And I was supposed to defeat him somehow. My sister noticed me and ran to hug me. We held each other tightly while our minds communicated.

  Thank you. If not for you, I would have died from the black magic. The magicians are not to blame. Most of the healing magic knowledge was destroyed by Maldelsoul’s command.

  Clarimie broke the silence. “We have gathered here for our departure. Magdalion and his well-trained soldiers will come. Fensagenia and Aurora will be in your group as you enter Port Archalypsis. Your group will get the supplies, Magdalion will get the crew, and my soldiers and I will find a ship. We must depart now—four days of our journey will be spent in the highlands. Everyone, grab the bags.”

  While we travelled, Aurora and Fensagenia told me stories of battles, journeys, and other events that had happened in the ancient era of Arthaesia. Fensagenia told me her story: She was born in a town full of fear of Mortver. She was determined from childhood to defeat the undefeatable. She practiced and practiced and meanwhile took care of her family. Her mother wanted her to be a suiting wife. Fensagenia was punished and treated unfairly for her beliefs. When the town was attacked again, Fensagenia fought among the men.

  This act destroyed her family's reputation. Mortver won, and Fensagenia could not go to the herbalist to heal her wounds because she had become a warrior of no noble birth. Never giving up hope, she left the village to find the secret Clamoor Clan. When she found it and was healed, she pledged to be a loyal warrior.