Chapter 4 ; The Brotherhood
VLADMIR;
I found myself in a room, its interior unlike anything I've ever seen, furniture I couldn't name, lights so bright it's blinding . There is a wooden flat top attached to four straight pieces of wood, which holds labeled bottles of coloured liquid in a language I can't understand. How did I get here? What is this place? Am I dead?
"You are very much alive." A voice said, I turned to where the voice came from and realized it's the seer. Wait a minute, he looks like the seer but he isn't. The seer is known to wear black coat with a hood, and his infamous bag. But this guy is dressed in clothes I have never seen before, no breeches, no hats or long overcoats. Just a shirt on tight pants he looks good but weird.
"I know you are confused right now, but this isn't the right time to talk." He whispered as if there was someone else in here.
"Where am i?" I asked calmly.
" My humble home, but that doesn't matter right now, you need to come find me. Let no soul know where you are headed." He explains.
"I do not understand?" I was totally confused, what was going on and why should I come find him when he is right in front of me. How did I get here?
"Just look for me Vladmir, this is a dream you shall wake up in a matter of seconds. Come find me." He instructed.
What does he mean by seconds, what is going on. I felt a sharp ringing in my ear, I tried to stop it by blocking the sound off. Then I found myself in my bed panting, sweat drenched my clothes and my bed.
Then I started to recall the room.i saw, the strange clothing of the seer,his last message 'come find me'. How real could it be? I checked my forehead to feel my temperature. Could I be having a fever? I feel warm, normal though. Part of me wants to go find him,the other part is waving it off as fear of going to the north. If so, why would I see Lyon the seer of all people?
The only way to find out is to go find him, and I have no idea if he stays in the old cave-like-home he built outside the castle near the old river. I took a bath, washed away the sweat, and took up new clothings. Something simple to wear. I walked to where my shoes are, someone has added more shoes and clothes to my rack. I brought out a pair of black books and slid them on. I took a look at my room one last time before shutting the door behind me. I have a feeling something big was gonna happen. But, I have no idea what it is.
I took an old path out of the castle. To avoid being seen by anyone. I had earlier taken a cloak, so I fastened it around my body and threw the hood over my head. 'Let no soul know where you are headed ' I recall the warning.
There's nothing worse than walking alone, in a cloak towards something or someone you are not sure of. The urge to go back to the castle and hide behind my blankets seems like the right thing to do. Until, I looked ahead and realized a cave with its exterior looking hideous,covered with webs and thatched roof. Who lives like this? A caveman? Or the infamous lyon the seer. The former I guess. I walked to the door, and I could see the river behind it. It will definitely be cold during winter. Who builds his home close to a river far from his village?
I stepped close to the door, I raised my hands intending to knock, when a voice startled me.
"Come in." He said.
I pushed the door open and the inside was horrifying, i had to wave off flying things and avoid webs. I made a mistake coming here. I'll probably die here , I thought.
" illusionaire disclosé." He chanted and immediately the room changed to something magnificent, beautiful does no justice. It is just like the one in my dream,exactly the room I saw in my dream. What just happened? Where did the web and insects go?
" It's just an illusion I created just in case anyone managed to sneak in." Lyon explained. He wasn't wearing strange clothes, just similar clothings to mine,but with no cloaks and bag.
" I'm wondering about the right change of attire." He glints and chuckles.
" It's a lot to take in, I don't want to overwhelm you." He explained walking around the room. I went closer to a wooden surface I saw in my dream, with labeled bottles. I straight forth touched my hands when he stopped me.
"I wouldn't do that if i were you, those aren't just any bottles as you can see, magical items and years of studying. " he informs me.
I looked around his home,and couldn't stop staring at everything.
" What is this?" I finally voiced out, "why is it so strange, what's going on here." I asked nervously.
"You have to relax and listen to everything I have to say." He said walking away from me he pointed to a chair "take a seat." Seeing my reluctance he further explained .
"It's a long ride of a story."
I finally sat down on a chair and the softness calmed me, Wow this is relaxing i thought.
He smiled but did not say a word.
" I'm Lyon, the seer to everyone. Rumor has it I'm older but appear young, I've traveled through time and other dimensions." He leaned forward "guess what? It is all true." He finished.
I gasped, couldn't believe my ears, he has traveled through time, like the future and past? And he is old but looks young.
" How?" I asked bewildered.
" That's a story for another time," He stood up looking dead serious. " It is time to live up to your destiny."
"You mean the destiny that got me locked away?" I shake my head in disbelief.
"I know it seems crazy and unreasonable, but it's all for the best." He tried reasoning with me.
" I don't need destiny nor you nor the royal family, when I'm back from my quest. I'll leave this cursed land." I stood up and Walked the door.
" What makes you think you'll walk out of there alive?" He asked me in a matter-of fact tone.
"I just know I will." I answered clearly, irritated by his words. I don't need another person to remind me I'm useless.
"You will if you listen to me." He cried out, throwing his hands in the air. "You need help,and I want to help you walk your path to destiny." He tried to persuade me.
I glared hard at him."If you mention destiny or fate one more time, I'll walk out of here and never look back." I coldly said.
"Fine." He said in defeat. "But, if you want to make it out of that dreaded place, you need help from "Brotherhood". There, they will tell you all you need to know about that place." He revealed.
"Why not tell me yourself, what's so great about this brotherhood.?" I scoffed.
"It is not in my place to tell you Vladmir. Go when the sun sets." He turned his back at me heading to his mysterious bottles
.
" Where is this place, the brotherhood?" I further inquired.
" your heart will lead you there." He replied.
" So I'm supposed to walk without directions?" I ruffled my head in confusion. What in all the moons of Romania is he on and about.
"You will know where they are, if you set your mind at it." He sat on a chair, he's closed.
" I don't understand, you have to explain." I yelled out.
No response.
"What if I get lost?" I reasoned.
No response.
"Say something Lyon." I was getting irritated by his attitude.
Again, No response.
Next thing I know, I'm right outside his door, what in the hell? I groaned angrily. That Mysterious old looking man.
"Ouch!" a pebble fell on my head.I turned around to hear a voice say " I'm not that old. Now get out of here." He said playfully.
Right, I'm stuck with an instruction and a royal deal and I don't even know what to do right now.I need to get back to the castle and think of a plan to meet the brotherhood. But I had this disturbing urge to set out for the brothers right now. In my haste to meet the seer i forgot to eat anything now my stomach is grumbling. Funny how I could withstand hunger in my isolated days but it seems to grow out of me.
I started walking away from the path that leads to the castle, I just have this feeling of walking forward. Hours later, I'm still on course to find the brotherhood. Who knows? I might be walking in circles considering I have no idea where I am, I'm following my mind, more like my legs. I had earlier cited wild berries and a few other fruits, which will do until I find something better to eat.
I realized the change in the air, a few yards away from me is a thicket, eerily, dark and from the looks of it hunted. It has an obvious distinct look from where I am, this part of the forest looks lively,birds singing in the trees, hot scorching sun hitting the leaves giving a cool breeze. But the thicket looks evil and there's no way I'm entering that sinister thicket. Then I got pulled towards it, no visible hands or rope, but something is pulling me and the shock evidently isn't letting me speak. Whatever it was, let me go after it successfully pulled me inside the thicket.
It was all dark like I assumed, why would the brotherhood choose someplace this odd and dark? Who are they? I mean, what are they?I moved in an unknown direction,like someone who is aware of where he is going. I just have a feeling I'm on the right path. After walking for what looked like an hour, I saw a cave. What is it with caves? Why not a home like any other person? The cave looks deserted just like Lyon's but I can bet on my guts the brothers are here. I walked in, my hearts on my hands.
"Vladmir" someone called out in a croaky voice.
" The Nedorit" another voice echoed, yeah well, I internally groaned.
"Fate has brought you here." The third voice boomed.
I raised my leg to continue moving forward but it got stuck, like glued to the ground. All attempts to unhook it seem futile.
" Do not resist Vladmir," immediately, the cave brightened, I realized I was in their middle, three men, covered in black from their head to their feet. They hold hands in a circle. I've read a lot about cults and this looks like one secret cult.
" Who are you?" I asked, facing all three turning around, I couldn't go past the circle on the ground, as if they knew I would be here.
"We should be asking you that, considering you walked into our cave." The first voice answered.
" I'm looking for a brotherhood?" I boldly said.
"We know." They all answered.
" The seer said I would get answers here." They started mumbling words, i couldn't understand a word they said, i got irritated and nervous.
"You cannot go North as a man and return," They chorused "You need the bite." They finished.
" I don't understand what you mean." I gulped. They were coming to creep me out.
"The test has to be taken." They said simultaneously, their voice echoed in the cave, and immediately the fire torch gave out its light.
"What is going on? What test?" I asked fear seeped through me thinking I'm going to die very soon.
"To check if you are worthy of the bite." They answered.
"What bite?" I asked in fear, they were certainly not making any sense right now.
"CÂPCÂUM" They replied.
It dawned on me, I have completely wasted my time coming here. How will I get out of here? I thought, I just need a few hands, something sort of an escort for my journey to the North or some sort of secret passageway, not some Cap bullshit.
"Thanks, but I no longer need your help." I announced, " If you don't mind, let me go." I pointed to the circle they entrapped me in.
" If you fail the tasks, you die. If you succeed you leave with the power of CÂPCÂUM." they said in unison.
"There is no out, once you are in, you are in." They finished.
I was immediately covered in a mist-like substance, I couldn't see anything any longer. I tried moving and realized I could walk no longer restricted. Then the mist cleared but something seemed off.i was no longer in the cave, the brothers nowhere in my view. I was alone in this creepy forest. Where the heck am i?
Immediately, an arrow flew past my right ear. I turned to see it struck a tree close to me.
Fudging skies!!!