The Corin Chronicles Volume I: The Light and the Dark (32 page)

Each of the warriors, including Ramon, immediately bowed upon recognizing their old mentor and trainer.

“Master Ndu,” Topenga said. “It is an honor to be in your presence once again, after so many months of your absence.”

Ndu nodded his head ever so subtly. “Rise, my children,” he said. All five men immediately stood upright. “This is a great day for every living man, woman, child, and beast in Corin,” Ndu said. He walked around each of the warriors, looking into their eyes as he spoke. “Long have I stayed away, listening through the walls, hearing of the bickering among men who wish to see Corin great again.” He paused before focusing his gaze on Ramon. “The Dark World is as the historians say, my children. It is the home to death and despair. I have seen it all. I have lived among the creatures that ravage the lands. I have seen their pain. The dangers you face are without comparison.”

A dim, red glow abruptly formed around Master Ndu’s body, bringing gasps from Mikael and Rumin. The depth of magic that Ndu could summon knew no bounds, as far as Topenga was aware. He had always been under the assumption that the Colonoy master and his twin brother were the only living humans across the whole galaxy who could produce magic in its purest form. The glow continued to brighten, almost outshining the light of the Corin sun.

“There are many challenges that face you on your quest,” Ndu continued. “And I fear you will experience pain and suffering like you never will again. But it is at times like these that those who are to be spoken of for eternity make themselves known.”

Oncelot nodded at the words of the Colonoy master, glancing at all five of his brave warriors.

“The legends only hint at the dangers you face,” Ndu continued. “River Crasus is the sea of the dead. It is evil and cursed. The sea serpents that roam within those waters have mercy for no one, and their bite is more poisonous than any creature that has roamed our universe for thousands of years.”

He paused, looking into their eyes, as if trying to smell their fear. “The story of the Kronos is one you might have heard before,” he continued. “But I fear nothing will compare to the emptiness that will surround your world when you encounter them in the great desert. They were carnivores of Corin during the times of the great gods and mostly remained in their caves, away from civilization. With their species sent to the Dark World during the divide, history has forgotten about them and the dangers they pose, but you are about to taste every ounce of hate and cruelty that fills their hollow, demonic eyes.

“Their only weakness is light, and many have tried to evade them using the one thing they are frightened of, but as no one knows the true distance across the desert, the light has always dimmed before arriving at the Caves of Sena. This is why fire substance is the only way of preserving light for the duration of the journey. Protect your supplies, for they are your life.”

“However, my children,” the Colonoy master continued. “If you do manage to get past the desert and the threat of the Kronos, only the gods know what lies in wait for you. In the end, everything will hinge on your battle with the Noboros.” Taking a few steps back, Master Ndu glanced at the king. “Your majesty,” he said, stretching his right hand across his body.

Oncelot stood facing the five warriors. He cleared his throat and said, “Go, my children. Rewrite your destinies and the destiny of us all. Help me make Corin great again.”

The king’s words brought forth loud shouting from the prince and the rest of his party. The show of unity continued for a few moments, until Topenga raised his hands, signaling his intention to speak. Everyone became quiet in anticipation except for Ramon, who quietly muttered to himself, as if trying to ignore what his former best friend had to say. He had lost much respect for Topenga, but he appreciated the fact that he was well respected by every warrior of Corin, and he could not doubt that his words would inspire the others.

“I would just like to express my gratitude,” Topenga said. “Lord King. Master Ndu. You are trusting us with a great responsibility, and we will not disappoint you.” He mounted his Ikrenum and rocked it off its front footing while letting off a war scream, and the cry was quickly echoed by his Ikrenum.

Mikael, Rumin, and Kasa also jumped onto their Ikrenums, and all four of them put on their battle helmets, for there was now no turning back. Ramon turned toward his father and Master Ndu before clenching his fist across his chest, and giving both of them a bow. Ndu reached down and grabbed Ramon’s hands, raising him up.

“I want you to take this, young prince.” He handed Ramon a small, crystal necklace that emitted a mysterious blue glow from its edges.

Ramon studied the necklace intently. “This is magnificent. What is it?”

“My father gave it to me many years ago,” replied Ndu. “And his father before him. Now I give it to you. It is believed to have been created by Auphora himself and passed down from the earliest rulers of the Light World, after the divide. Some say it is a key that can take you anywhere on the planet you desire to go. It may keep you safe.”

“But surely,” Ramon said, still staring at the necklace, “if Auphora did create this gem, it was never intended for use within the Dark World.”

“Perhaps not,” said Ndu. “But its power cannot be doubted, and I would like you to have it with you when you reach the realms of the Dark World. You must keep it visible during your encounter with the gatekeeper.”

Ramon nodded. “I shall take it with me,” he said. “And by the gods, it shall watch over me and my comrades.” He bowed before the Colonoy master once more. Then he nodded toward his father.

With all five warriors sitting on their Ikrenums, ready for the journey ahead, the king raised his right hand in a salute. “My children,” he started, “as the sun continues to scorch us in our sleep, the dusk of the Dark World awaits, where you will write a new dawn. Now go. Glory beckons.”

Topenga repeated his war cry, and his Ikrenum shot off into the blazing, hot night of Corin. The other four raced closely behind him. The king remained rooted to the same spot, beside Master Ndu, watching the dust from the trail of the Ikrenums that carried his hopes of a new Corin.

The journey to the River Crasus soon turned into a treacherous one, with rough weather and ear-splitting noise from the wailing west winds. The sun had given way to darker clouds, but the brightness still remained all around them. Occasionally halting the party, Ramon continued to look for adequate shelter for rest. He knew that the dangers within the Dark World meant countless nights without sleep.

On their first stop after their initial departure from the castle, they carefully dismounted their Ikrenums in a small clearing covered with fresh grass. Even this short distance from home, the temperature had begun to drop, and it continued to plummet the farther north they rode, toward River Crasus. A small amount of fire substance, combined with blue flame, helped to light a small camp fire to keep them warm.

With all five of the warriors sitting around the fire, Kasa quickly rummaged through his bag, pulling out chunks of cheese and dried meat. The chuckles from the others did not stop him from shoving the food in his mouth. He stopped suddenly, a piece of meat dangling from his half-open mouth. “Who has the bread?” he asked.

Smiling, Mikael placed a thick slice of bread in Kasa’s outstretched hand, eating the rest himself. With the party fully fed, they gulped down flasks of water before laying their heads on the ground, staring up into the skies.

Kasa opened his mouth, as if to talk, but held himself back. After a few minutes, he finally broke the silence. “Do you really think they will treat us as heroes if we return with the Philosophers? I was hoping that maybe Karew might finally notice me.”

The mention of Karew drew a glance from Rumin. “I would stop thinking about her if I were you,” he said. “Her heart belongs to another.”

“Felox Tupol!” shouted Kasa. “What could she possibly see in him?”

“Money, perhaps,” Topenga said. “His father is, after all, one of the wealthiest men in western Corin. For generations their family has continued to import gold from Tyranis and Crandor. Gold most people cannot get their hands on.”

“I remember Karew,” said Ramon. He smiled. “I remember never seeing you, Kasa, without her a few yards behind. I always marveled at her beauty. Her exquisite, fair hair. Her smile that could warm the coldest heart. Perhaps it was your strong friendship that prevented her from noticing you as more than a friend.”

“What are you saying?” asked Rumin. “That he has a chance? Even when her heart belongs to someone as wealthy as Felox?”

Ramon stood up. “She knows not how Kasa feels about her, but her heart is not truly out of reach.” He sat down beside Kasa. “If you like this girl,” he continued. “You must break through the barrier of friendship and let something else blossom, something that could lead to love.”

The smile that crept on to Topenga’s face brought a scowl to Ramon’s, prompting him to return to his initial spot.

Hours passed, with each of them drifting in and out of sleep before Mikael spoke loudly. “Lord Prince,” he said, repeating it numerous times.

The other four moved about, reaching for their weapons and grunting angrily at being awoken. Ramon massaged his eyes before responding to his comrade. “Yes, Mikael,” he mumbled.

“Why do you think Master Ndu emerged from the caves to speak with us?” he asked. “It has been nearly four months since anyone last laid eyes on him.”

Sitting up, Ramon gazed around him before responding. “The magnitude of the quest we are embarking on is like nothing that has come before.” He stretched his arms high in the air. “Master Ndu knows all,” he went on. “His exploits in the Dark World are legend. We must not question why he spoke to us, but rather embrace it and be thankful.”

Silence overcame them for a few seconds, before Rumin stood. “Then why does he not help us?” he said. “Master Ndu is perhaps the most powerful Colonoy in the universe. The magic he wields would most certainly assist us in the Dark World.”

“Master Ndu has always been impartial when it came to the gods,” snapped Topenga. “Unlike his brother, he still believes in the gods we worship, although he refuses to oppose either Baran or Auphora. The fact that he is a living legend is the reason why we dare not question anything he has to say.”

“But what about his brother?” asked Mikael. “What ever did become of him? Perhaps he could help us.”

“He remains on Corin,” replied Ramon. “He has not been seen for almost ten years, but stories of him continue to emerge. His lack of faith in our gods is no secret.” He stood up and walked a few paces ahead of the four other men, before turning around to face them. “It is our destiny to face the Dark World alone. We need to embrace that reality in order to survive.”

Each member of the party remained silent, until Topenga spoke up. “So what do you want to do after this is over, Lord Prince?” he asked.

Ramon sat back down on the ground, looking toward the skies. “I have not given it much thought, if I am honest. It would be a blessing if I could one day experience the love of a good woman. I would like to meet someone who will care for me despite my flaws, someone who might understand other aspects of my life.” He paused, still focusing on the skies, where a number of clouds had appeared. “I sometimes envy those on Earth. I envy the ignorance they must live in. Their minds must be clear. Would it be a bad thing if we were sometimes ignorant to our tragic history?” His words drew no response at first, as the others gazed at anything they could but the eyes of each other.

“Regardless of our history, I would love to visit Earth one day,” said Rumin, with a smile. “I hear that they have vast beaches where the sea is as clear as day. I also hear that they have an abundance of beautiful animals.”

Listening to his childhood friends speaking and dreaming, as they had many years before, filled the Prince with hope—hope that their inseparable bond would see them through the worst of the Dark World.

5.2

T
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URNING
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fter a few hours of rest and recollecting on their hopes and dreams, the party set off once more for the dark side of Corin. As they traveled, the mountains surrounding them seemed alive, changing color frequently, their higher reaches morphing from brown to shades of green. The sight of the birds that flew through the many trees surrounding them brought frequent smiles to Ramon’s face, and the loud humming among the flocks nearly brought them to a standstill as they each marveled at the natural beauty of their planet.

“We will be arriving at Sabudu in a few hours,” said Topenga, reining in his Ikrenum. “It might be a good idea to seek adequate shelter and food.”

Halting beside the Colonoy, Ramon flicked sweat from his forehead before gulping down water from his flask. “Perhaps that might be wise,” he started, “but we must mask our true identities once we arrive there. They must not know that we hail—” He quickly cut himself off, his mouth opened wide. His eyes lay fixed on an enormous yellow tree, set apart from the other trees around them, and lying directly in their path.