Chapter 6
Hadronic Ocean, Fleur seaport, Kratom Continent, planet: Makatea, Year: 300
Huddled in a small, plain berth, unlike the luxurious ones set aside for the VIP travelers, a small group of adults sat on small bunks. They were talking about what happened earlier.
"Shouldn't we take this as a sign that we're on the right track?" A woman with golden blond hair and black eyes regarded her companions with a smile. "We should go ahead with our plans." She shrugged with a scowl when one of the others shook their heads. "What now, Muenster?"
Muenster sighed. "Pardon, Lady Andra, but we've received some distressing news." He glanced at the other men and women in the group. "Please check the notifications before we do anything further."
Lady Andra frowned as she pursued the information she had just now received. "What in the world does this mean for our plans?" This was most unpleasant. The ship was the perfect place for the summoning, she'd determined through several divination objects. "So, what is their reason for disapproval?"
Muenster grunted. "It seems we have some elite sons and daughters abroad." His lips curled in contempt. "One of whom is that bastard of an author that rejected our demands."
"Oh really?" How lucky they were, Lady Andra sighed. "All right, what are the other protests to our activities?"
Lady Margo glanced at Muenster with a scowl. "I'm getting the feeling that they're having second thoughts about using a floating object on the water for our point of opening."
Bah, cowardly fools. Lady Andra shook her head. "So, what else can you all tell me?" She wasn't sure of her next step and required their input. After all, they had joined her on this excursion. If any of them felt the same as the leaders, that would also determine whether or not they should proceed.
Lady Merril, who'd joined at the last minute, scowled. "You cannot be serious?" She shook her head angrily. "This is stupid." Merril had a definite grievance against all aristocrats and other elitist families. "All because of a bunch of spoiled aristocrats. We must put an end to our plans?" The outrage in her voice was genuine.
They were the highest-ranked six zealots who'd managed to get aboard the boat.
Yes, they'd plotted for the summoning to occur on the boat. Now they were beyond pissed when they received an order to cease creating the optimum scenario on the ship.
Muenster shrugged. "I guess they've decided their precious sons and daughters aren't worth summoning those beings that contacted us." His disinclination to put up with such trivialities somewhat soothed the ladies' outrage.
The other two men, Parag and Thomas, weren't as outraged as the ladies. They were having second thoughts about going against the leaders' demands that they end this ritual. "Should we consider doing what they say?" Parag looked outside. "We don't even have a new moon yet," he reminded them seriously.
Parag had researched everything conscientiously. "If we don't do this right, something worse may come and devour us entirely."
Thomas grunted in disgust. "I think we should just go ahead with it." He told Parag and the others. "No matter what happens." He folded his arms. "Remember what our motto is."
They sat silently contemplating the dilemma.
*
The archaic dwelling of statues, Dethos continent
It was interesting to discover that when Kaemon Frell awoke from a restless night's sleep, he was no longer in his homeland, much less on The Shimmering Wave Skimmer.
Instead, he was in a strange space filled with…statues. What the hell was this place? Why had he wound up there?
Freaked out, Kaemon looked around in confusion. "How did I get here?" He wasn't pleased with this latest change in environment, to say the least.
"You are one of the chosen ones to become a magical being." A voice told him very calmly. "However, to do that, you've regressed to your ten-year-old self."
That wasn't in the least bit enticing to Kaemon. "I'm what?" How could he even manage to escape the hell of his family life if he was ten years old? "Am I allowed to retain memories of my former life then?"
There was silence, and then the speaker sighed. "Of course, though, you've returned to a parallel timeline. Things aren't quite as horrible as what you remember."
Kaemon would only believe it once he saw who his parents were and if he still had a bully for a fiancé. Otherwise, he wasn't of mind to put up with this nonsense. "So, what am I doing here as a chosen one." He'd clearly heard the thing about becoming a magical being. "What happened that I was put here?"
Now, other voices filled the air, outrage being foremost. This would make for one hell of a good novel. Too bad Kaemon didn't have the items necessary to write it.
"Oh, but you could easily influence what happens," the being told him earnestly. "However, you must consider binding to a deity statue." He shrugged. "Choose wisely because, from that point on, you'll still have to train to combat these creatures." He pointed to a projector of horrific-looking creatures aiming odd-looking weapons at the planet where Kaemon resided. "Err, what happens if I don't succeed?"
The being glanced at Kaemon. "You can't be serious?" When Kaemon remained silent, the being sighed. "Everything will be wiped out. All timelines in which you and Terron Archelon were fated to live as married couples will vanish."
Kaemon blinked. What did Terron have to do with this? However, he wasn't able to ask further questions. The being told him coldly. "Now walk among the statues and scan their information before making a choice." He shrugged. "You have three possibilities of which statues you can choose. In the end, only one of them will also choose you."
Well, that was totally messed up.
Since Kaemon didn't have any other options, he did as he was told, though the timing could have been better. In this case, being a ten-year-old wasn't so bad. He could run wild and get away with it. He saw his reflection in a mirrored pool. Huh, he was indeed young, but not in a wrong way, of his recollection. Now, he could defend himself in a fight if that was necessary. The future was looking more hopeful than before.