The Sphere: The Phantom of the West Rim

  Slowly and trembly he opened the door and like no hope left in his life, his eyes stared blankly at both man before him.

  “S’cuse me, I’m I interrupting?”

  “Not even a moment, please come in!” said Headmaster Alden. 

  “Looks like you guys busy now. Better I go and come another time,” said Aska tried to avoid them. 

  “No we only had light conversation, so please come in and join us!” exclaimed headmaster. 

  “Maybe I had misinformation but my source told me they found two different footprints, where’s another one?”

  “I think one is enough for you to ask. After all I'm sure he was the mastermind of this incident.” replied headmaster. “So I’m sure he knew more than the other one.”

  “If I may know why I’ve been called here?” 

  “I think you already know why.” 

  Aska immediately sank to headmaster’s knees, begging and crying at the feet of the old man with crocodile tears set on his face. “I swear Sir! I did not mean to disturb that dragon’s lair. I intend to do social research on the dragon, please don’t punish me! Don’t put me into the service!” said Aska, clutching and tugging at the headmaster’s trouser.

  “I've never seen anyone who dared to enter the Zimeth cave but have no guts against the detention from you. Did Grove have changed? I thought you had left the old conservative ways and trying to be progressive.” asked Covach.

  “No, he did always like this, be over on everything.” said headmaster “Erase your crocodile tears, this isn’t about Zimeth.”

  “Really?” said Aska, stared at the headmaster with bright cheery face, but soon he knelt again on his feet. “But you will put me on the service right?”

  “Who told you that?”

  Once again his face turned to bright and cheerful directly after knowing that he doesn’t have to go into service. Then he looked at headmaster with confidence and smile. Seems he already forgot how he was few seconds ago.

  “So what’s happened Jumbo?” asked Aska, rounded his arm to headmaster’s shoulder and act buddy-buddy with him.

  “You’re just from the Grimwood isn’t?”

  “Yes, why?” replied Aska.

  “Did you see anyone or anything suspicious?” asked Covach. 

  “Few.”

  “Few?” 

  “Bargest, rodent, you know how Grimwood made you creeps, right?” said Aska with funny expression. “What this is all about?” 

  “Can I believe you?” said Covach with his eyes intimidating him. “If I got you leaked it, next time I steps here and you'll be dragged into Shell immediately.” 

  “Of course ...” said Aska swallowed. “You can trust me as good as you swallow monkey milk.” 

  Covach just grimaced when he heard the odd parable. “What do you know about Artharis?” 

  “Artharis? The Legendary Artharis?” 

  “He’s just a criminal, nothing more!” interrupted Covach with high tone.

  “Take it easy man! This is why I do not want to get into Shell.” said Aska “Mmm, what I know about Artharis ... well, he's one of General of The Kingdom of Bulan, very great knight, so great that he was got the title of Sin, a highest noble status in his Kingdom. And very well-known in our ground for defeating Dark Lord in the Battle of Elderon.” said Aska “Is this verbal test? Or you asked it for another reason?”

  “For truth, these men who felt ‘Shell needs talented boy like you’ suspected that Artharis currently resides in Grimwood. Did you meet him there or not?” asked headmaster.

  “I did meet suspicious person but I don’t know whether he Artharis or not.”

  “How did he look like?” 

  “I couldn’t get his face only his long grey hair stretched out from his black cape, like evil wizard of old forest.”

  “Is there anything else?”

  “Nope, but a blue flame kindled on his left hand. I don’t know what kind of magic it was but he swept and held that huge lightning ball with that burning-in-blue hand… well, some sort of it.”

  “Blue flame, the Sword of Eternity, no doubt it was him.” said Covach “What else do you see kid?”

  “We just got a flash date. That man stun us with lightning at first met and leave us unconscious. I don’t know what’s wrong with that guy, maybe he just broke with a girl.”

  “You didn’t lie aren’t you?” said Covach glowered at him suspiciously “Because if you do, I will drag and sent you to the Northwhite next time I step here.”

  “Well, as you heard my students just had a little more luck than the rangers.”

  “Rangers, what happened to them?”

  “They’re attacked not far from the campsite and I think it’s yours since my scout told shoes and great size of paws printed on the same ground there.” said Covach as he glanced to that young Volk. “However they’re lucky enough as the attacker leave them with their life even it’s not good enough to make them open their eyes in few days. We can’t found but one who still hold his eyes and tongue. From him we succeeded to gather information, a little but still useful and very similar with this kid told us about, black caped man with blazing blue on his right hand. Great in strength but the most interesting part of his story is all their magic broke against him.”

  “Broke?” asked headmaster.

  “Well, you can ask this kid whether it’s the exact word to represent what he saw or not. Beside you know the one who could do such thing.”

  They paused for a moment then headmaster asking to Covach, “So what will you report to Sahagin then?”

  “I will tell what he wanted to heard, that Artharis was here.”

  “Did you know that kind of report will put your men into danger?”

  “I knew. If it isn’t Artharis the forest itself will suffer us and cut our number into half in a day. But at this time General wouldn’t care about anything except to hunt him down, even without this info.” said Covach. “Maybe his good friend could persuade him and calm him down.”

  “It’s been years since he doesn’t listen to me anymore.” Headmaster shows nothing but sad smile on his face.

  “Then my visit end here. May I excuse? I’ve had other things to do.”

  “Then I just can give ‘good luck’ to you all.”

  “Thank you.”

  Covach then walked over to the door followed by Aska behind as if he was his assistant, seems he attempt to leave the room normally. But his effort was failed when headmaster call him before he could reach the door.

  “Not so fast young man.”

  Chapter 6 

  Rumble in the Water

  Rey and Eorin walked slowly down the porch, looked around the dorm. The building was shaped an oval and built in five levels overlooks the central garden with a fountain. The porch was tiled in light brown and railing with baluster and pillars which covered with vine. The wall was clean with letter box at the left side of the door but each door has their own color, some just plain with number on it, few have stickers scrambled and the others painted with some character like cartoon.

  Only boys wandering around there, and they looked at Eorin with half wonder and half excitement. Some boys just smiled at her, others were shamed and bow his head while one guy greet him like they’re close each other, Velkan was his name, he looks fair and tall with his wavy hair to his neck, his clothes looks formal and spine sword was in his holds like he’s about to attend ceremonial event.

  It was long conversation and Rey wait in his silence and unknowledgeable, for none of the subject could get into his minds. Suddenly, as he looked at the central garden, something strange happened. All boys running away with rush, the gate closing and less than half minute the central garden was empty. Then on the other side of the porch he saw the boys crowded, gathering around, shouting and yelling some name.

  “What happened?” asked Eorin.

  “Just another match.” said Velkan.

  “What match?” a
sked Rey.

  “You’ll see.” replied Eorin.

  Suddenly there’s a blast from the fountain, the water gushing out furious like a bursting flood. Soon the central garden and pave road drowned in water and it rapidly climbing up with grumbled sound as if the place was going to sunken. Rey was surprised and scared, he holds Eorin’s hand immediately to bring her escape but instead of follows him Eorin just laugh at him.

  “You just out of the cave do you?” said Eorin laughed.

  Now the flood reached their floor. But strange, the water didn’t flooded to their floor nor they see a spill crawled to their toes instead it raising and filling before them like there’s some magical barrier hold the flood. Rey stepped back fearing that the raising water before them will broke at any time. However a look of awe was in his face when he saw fishes tried to swim against the currents that dragged them.

  Before long the central garden turned into a giant aquarium before them. Up there the sun was almost reach the zenith and sent forth rays which piercing the surface above until it seemed to them a fountain of light wavering inside the blue. And below he saw no green garden anymore, no grasses or plants under the sun he could recognize, only coral and algae with many kind of fishes swimming there and there. He stretched his hand and touched the water before his eyes, no glasses or any object concealed the liquid, it even rippled when he touched it. Cold and fresh he felt as he dipped his hand into water and he smile in amazement looking his wet hand.

  “He’s like kid, touch everything he sees. Who’s he?” asked Velkan.

  “Aska’s cousin, so far I knew.” said Eorin with keen eyes, as if want to drag the truth from him.

  “Another Volk as your guardian, that’s good.” said the guy. “Speak about Volk. It is Azra who perform now. That’s why they turned the garden into aquarium.”

  “In this fish tank?” said Eorin curious. “And what will he do? Catch a little fish?”

  “Nah, I don’t think they crowded here only to see feeding frenzy.”

  ‘Azra! Azra! Azra!’ everyone there yelled a name. Then out of the crowd they saw a guy stepped forward with poking and yelling about him. He was bald and muscular build, and when he realized there’s a girl gazed at him suddenly he took off his shirt and posing to exhibit his muscle. The crowd turned boisterous, laughing and whistling. Eorin then presents him a smile, but it wasn’t smile to cheer him up, rather it looks like she waiting or commands him to do something idiotic.

  Seeing that smile the guy jumped in and broke the water to dive inside. Swift and free he was, and longer breath he had like inside the waters his lives belong. Then after a minute he’s having fun inside the water the guy then gives a sign to the others.

  “Unseal the monster out boys!” cried them.

  One of them throws something into the water. Under wavering light Rey caught a glimpse of it. It was something like a golden gear with a Sphere attached on it, and it sank deep to the bottom in no time.

  Suddenly, from the bottom a burst of bubbles rushing wild into the surface and just a moment later it stopped. Then everything fell in silence and so was everyone. They looked down to the bottom with dread in their eyes and inside the water Azra searching down among the shadows and reef with tense. Fishes swimming and rushing with fear, hiding among the reef and stone, and some even break the limit and leap to the open air.

  With wonder still on her, Eorin took that fish and return it to the water. “What kind of monster inside that Sphere?”

  “Barracuda, big and ancient one, don’t know where they found it.”

  “The serpent fish?! He could be killed there. And you’ll get problem with that.”

  “I know it. But you know how stubborn these Volk are, often had danger and wild as their game.” said Velkan. “Besides we have frost bomb in case something bad happened.”

  The aquarium looks empty now and silent, leaving them in motionless blue. But somehow they felt some danger inside the water, like there’s a monster slithering beneath. Suddenly he caught a glimpse of shadow beneath, very fast and big enough that the bottom clouded with billowing sands. He looked down to the bottom, searching there and there but he can’t found it but flash motion of it. And suddenly something crossed before his eyes like huge silver shaft piercing the water at great speed. It was huge fish and long, like a snake in appearance and pointed head like an arrow with large jaws filled with sharp teeth. Then it hovering under the surface, waiting in stillness before the man, not for prey, rather it was like he found an enemy to fight for dominance.

  Suddenly the monster attacked him in fast pounce. Azra managed to avoid it but his arm sliced by the sharp teeth of the monster. Everyone yelling and ooh, but Azra still looks calm inside though from his arm a red hue faded into the blue. Again the monster pounce down with great jaws opened, strongly and fast it down like huge arrow crashed to the bottom and with that the sands rose like smoke.

  Everyone waiting in silence and tense looked at the bottom of the water. And as the sands down he saw to his surprise that seemed to him like a legendary sea creature holds the barracuda at the jaws. Naga it was, a humanoid serpentine from the realm of dark abyss where it slumbered since the world still ancient. The head was like dragon of the deepest sea with two fins grew on the sideburns like ears, and dorsal fin stretched from head to tail. It look gallant as the guardian of the sea, the body was thickly built with humanoid torso merging into serpent tail, and had scale as solid as an armor. A horn grew on the shoulder and serrated fin stretched on his arm like a razor. The Naga grab the jaws of the barracuda and with great strength he slammed it to the reef.

  The surface before them look calm and still, only soft vibration on the water like there’s wind whistling on it but inside it a rogue fight happened between two creatures. The reef broken and ruined, sometimes they broke the water wall and flushed the floor. And now with the sands rose and clouded the bottom they could only see both tails swaying wildly like they’re trying to kill each other.

  “All right guys, the show ends here. You only made the aquarium dirty.” said a guy. His face was cute – a bit frail-looking, but his posture was athletic with wavy dark hair. A bow and arrow were in his hands.

  “Come on Freeya! It’s just a game.”

  “Azra must ready on the field in minutes and I don’t want him get bite by some fish.”

  The tip of arrow glowing blue as his finger touched it. Then he aimed it to the bottom of the water where two monsters fought fiercely among sands and bubbles. So focused he was till his brown eyes look glare, no sounds or words could affected him either boo or spare.

  “Did Azra get the red card in the last game? He’s not allowed on the field right now.” said someone, trying to persuade him.

  “Then it doesn’t matter if I shoot him right?” said Freeya.

  He releases his arrow and like a shooting star it sparkling inside the gloomy blue and very fast inside the water as if it could pierce it. Into billowing sands it goes through and vanished, and suddenly there’s a blast of arc among the sands like a lightning inside the cloud.

  Everything fell silent for a moment. They gazed anxiously to the bottom, searching between sands and reefs. And after the aquarium wasn’t clouded by sand anymore they turned curious, for nothing there, neither Azra nor that big barracuda. All eyes searching into the aquarium but still they found nothing but destroyed coral reef. Someone even plunge his head into the aquarium to seek where they are, but only little fish swimming there.

  All of sudden the water wall beside Rey broken and leap out of it a young guy. He landed and bent down, and then like a hero or knight slew the dragon he rose in triumph. Proudly he walked over to Eorin and then with manner he gently took her hand to kiss it.

  “A gift for my precious.” said Azra. Then he walked away without even glance, only gives his back to say good bye.

  “Seems he like you.”

  “Then he should try harder than fish fighting and hand kissing to get m
e flattered. Not to mention I’m feel odd when he called me ‘my precious’.” said Eorin as she saw something given by Azra. It was Sphere with that barracuda sealed inside.

  “Well at least he gave precious gift for you. That Barracuda Sphere will grant you water breathing and fast diving ability, and best one.”

  “Yeah but I am a Magi, this kind of Sphere wouldn’t much useful for me,” said Eorin “Here, for you.” She handed the Sphere to Rey.

  “Really? You give it to me?”

  “Yeah, I thought you’ll need it than me.”

  “Well, thank you then.” said Rey looked at the Sphere with great excitement.

  “Is he really Aska’s cousin?” asked Velkan.

  “I’ve told you. Too polite isn’t he.”

  Azra get back to the crowd and welcomed like a hero, everyone took his shoulder and give him applause. And he danced like a rapper in front of Freeya to tease how worse his shot, no anger or upset seen on his face, only joy and fun.

  “I don’t know what you guys have on your mind.”

  “At least I don’t need to worry about another fight to happen.” said Velkan, then he looked at ruined coral reef and wet floor. “But someone has to restore this mess.”

  “It must be hard to be a prefect.”

  “Not hard enough but sometimes you have to become despicable one which now I have to.”

  “Good luck then.”

  They parted. Velkan go to the crowd while Eorin brought Rey to Aska’s room. When the door opened he found the room was quite messy. On the corner they found many strange objects from old vase, wooden sculpture, strange spiral-shaped horn, cat’s claws and talon at size of their arm. At the top of the shelf there were chunks of crystal including some strange flower inside glass tube. And above them there’s a little fossil of four winged dragon hanging on the ceiling.

  He walked slowly to the desk watched carefully at the aquarium that was like a crystal ball. And to his amazement he found that the spherical aquarium was formed with no glass. It was water orb, formed by pure water and two fishes swimming inside among short algae. He also saw few crystal balls, arranged and connected by black shaft like atomic model. Sphere it might be from the shape and size, but it had orange hue and nothing was sealed inside. A big thick book was next to it but it was locked. Rey wondered what kind of book is it, someone easy like him wouldn’t have a diary and it couldn’t be a book of spell, he even doubted that it contain a knowledge, for most of the books were scattered on the floor or just pile up like never touched.