I could tell you how my eyes, glowing emerald, gave me the power to defeat the six-legged beast. And how my friend, Jacob, helped me to secure the safety of any innocent bystanders. I could tell you we were heralded as the heroes of the city and a parade was held in our honor. I could certainly tell you all of that and more about our courageous adventures and ultimate defeat of evil. If I did tell you all of that, it would all be a lie. No one saw us. There were no bystanders. And most likely, if people knew we had powers and creatures like a basilisk, or a demon showed up to cause harm; everything would go mad. The thin fabric holding this society together would perish. No, instead, I found myself flying through the air, toward the ground, to my doom; and I had a thought. A sensation came over me. I remembered something I should have known all along.
When I was just two years old. It dawned on me. The ceremony. My great-grandfather had passed away. I don't remember that time well at all, and can't recall any details, but this one scene popped into my mind. My mother and father. They seemed worried. Almost sad, downtrodden, as my grandpa help me up and declared me heir to the seat of Druk The Protector. He wasn't speaking of me, or my seat, no; he was speaking of my great-grandfather's seat. I was never told what that means. I simply never remembered that day until that moment. And nothing was ever said to me about it, or even who my great-grandfather was. That moment, when death was seconds away.
Grandpa always treated me and brought me up in the best way possible. My parents were working hard on the land, and my grandma has passed away before I was born. I thought it was just his duty to raise me. I did have older siblings though, and they were never around us. Grandpa took me to "his spot" on the mountain where we would spend hours of each day together. Most of the time he didn't say much besides talk of the weather and minor complaints about my parent's working outcomes, except one day. Just before a rainstorm took hold when the dark clouds were quickly coming our way from the horizon, he said to me:
"The storm will come for you, young Druk. And you will find yourself in the middle of it, no matter where you are. I cannot tell you why. I don't have the understanding. My father knew, for he was what you shall become. Be ready. Once the clouds cover the sky above and open up the downpour, you will have trouble finding your way out. Remember though, the clouds may be dark, and may rumble the sky, and may pour water on your head until you think you will drown; what they bring though is life. Water is life for all living things. Life."
Life. Yet there I was, about to splatter onto the earth. Until…
Flames took me…
A blaze circled me!
I jerked into the air and shot off over the horizon!
And I came down and landed on The Shard, the tallest building in the city!
The flames subsided. My eyes glowed. I didn't die. I became stronger. Just like the grass, or the trees, or the animals after a strong rainstorm.
My phone rang.
Snapping back into my conscious mind, I answered it.
"Druk. It seems you have found trouble yet again. This time, because of that pesky kid I told you to disassociate yourself with. Well, what just happened with you has sped things up for sure. Concerning Malix that is. That basilisk was sent there by him, to see how you would react. Each time you use your power he knows. We discussed that. As amazing as what you just did is; he will find it more of a threat. You see, there is a contract I am sure you know nothing about. You really should not be here. I have reevaluated our situation and know you need to leave immediately. I am sending you to Belarus. To Minsk. I have associates there who will train you well. You will not be able to live such a lavish lifestyle there, without me to protect you. You must become invisible. I have arranged work for you, in a small private school. You will be teaching English to Belarusian natives in the evenings. You will be living in a rather small, yet decently comfortable apartment near your work. You have to be as invisible as possible. Your visa, work permit, and everything you shall need is being taken care of now. I have registered you, so to speak, as a native of England. You will see the limo below on the street. Go inside the emergency staircase and walk all of the ways down until you are out. The doors remain unlocked from the inside. No more flying around like a fireball, ha-ha! Ralph will take you back to the hotel where you can have one last night for sleep in luxury. Your flight is early tomorrow morning. Ralph will have all of your paperwork. Worry not. If Malix should come to you before you leave, remember what I said. Do not speak with him! I am sure he will warn you one last time, although it may be a bit more alarming. I will contact you once you arrive in Minsk."
He hung up.
How did he know about what I JUST did? Are there cameras floating around me? Does he have psychic power? Alarming! As awful as this all was, I had to follow his orders. While walking down the MANY stairs, I worried about Jacob. Where did he go? Was he alright? I was certainly in the storm for sure, and something told me it was only getting worse.
And what happened with the basilisk you wonder? Well, upon seeing it, Jacob was teleporting all around it trying to take its attention away from me. Noble for sure. Unfortunately, the monster guessed where he would appear after and knocked him off of the roof with one swipe of its tail! Before I could do anything, it swung its tail back and knocked me off of the roof just a second later. Extremely quick that creature was!
After returning to my room after a silent ride back from Ralph, I was ready to sleep. Too bad I had a guest awaiting me. Jacob!
"Aye! There you are, bloke! Worried about me? Well, I do have some cracked ribs and bruises for sure! I was worried 'bout you. I teleported as soon as I got knocked off the roof into the park across the road. I couldn't see ya though. Just a fireball streaking across the sky! That monster must have fire breatin' or something! Well, I sent Wendy, my organization's emergency contact my emergency signal and she got me out of there and to a hospital! I'm damaged. Not finished though! How about you? What happened, bloke?" he said while holding his chest and grimacing.
"I have my own powers too, don't worry for me so much! You should have gotten out of there and let me handle that beast. At any rate, I'm fine. I must be going soon though. I have to…"
The lights went out. A portal opened. Flames burned within it. Malix returned. What was Nidar not telling me? Now, I know he had told me not to communicate with this monster, but I had to. I wanted to learn more. What was worrisome was Jacob could see this as well. He stepped back with a look of pure fear on his face! Frozen with fear.
"Why do you bother me again, Malix! I hold no grudge to you. I have no ill will towards you either. Leave me be!" I said boldly. Yep, my eyes glowed emerald and my countenance had changed.
"You dare speak to me with such insolence, boy! I could walk through this portal now and devour you whole in an instant! Be glad I have not been angered to that point yet. My patience though has nearly been run through! Leave here! As I have commanded you!" His voice certainly didn't sound friendly, and, in fact, would have curdled my blood if I hadn't been in "hero" mode.
"Why? What are you afraid of? If I'm just a boy, then what harm could I cause you? I have power, yes, but it is all new. Can you train me? Will you show me how to become as powerful as you are? I can be your mentee! Your wisdom would be a gift for sure!"
A deep, deep rumbling laughter exploded from the cave, shaking the entire hotel. The fires burst forth, barely coming out of the mouth of the cave. I could feel the heat as moved closer and they tickled my face. I loved it!
"You truly do not have a master, eh? Too bad. I will not take you in. This place is for one mighty being, which is Malix, and Malix only! Go back to your homeland. You may find answers there. Now, look at me being so kind to a mischievous boy such as you! Ha! This is certainly uncharacteristic! You have 15 earth hours to be gone. If you do not believe me then I will take some collateral!" At that, a huge red claw burst out of the cave and grabbed Jacob, who immediately fainted, and pulled him inside! "If you are not gone in 15 hours, your friend here will slowly roast, alive, until I deem him fit to devour for my breakfast!"
The cave closed. Jacob was gone. Why? Poor Jacob! Always getting into trouble because of me! How could I help him?