The Nine Paths Saga
Book 1
The Adventures of Kia: ICE & Wind
Prologue
A day will come when the skies shine black
And the worlds will scream in fear
For the Seven Hearts of Evil will war across the Seven Realm Cosmos to gain control of the Nine Elemental Pillars.
On that sunless day, the Sage of the Nine Pillars will arise to do battle with the evil ones.
However, unable to vanquish the Seven Hearts of Evil, the Sage shall give his life to form a Shining Sealed Gate using all nine elements to trap the Evil Hearts.
For five hundred years the gate shall remain closed
But soon after, the seal will break and the Evil Hearts will again be free.
Only the chosen one of the Nine Elemental Pillars will have the power to battle with the Seven Evil Ones and vanquish them for good
But be warned chosen one…
-Rest of the prophesy missing
-prophesy of Delphani, advisor and seer of the On High Council, 120 ATF
493 ATF Day of the Prophesy
Swirling phantasms snaked around the borders of the Dark Doorway, seeming to suggest the malicious entities beyond. On the outer threshold of the gate stood an imposing and ancient man who stood a good half foot above most men, with a flowing mane of white hair and a great silver beard reaching down to his knees. His angular features and flashing eyes were reflected and distorted in the swirling door of the dark realm. Crossing his arms in front of himself, the Sage flung his arms out toward the door. Gleaming chains of light began to snake their way up the dark structure. Shades and shadows within the gate began to appear and shoot towards the rising chains. The Sage leapt into the air and thrust his arms toward the door. Bolts of lightning shot from his palms and arched toward the gate. With the sound of a thunderclap and tearing metal, the lightning bolts struck the gate and formed intense beams of energy racing back and forth in between the support pillars of the gate. The chains of light, meanwhile, continued to make their way up the dark void of the gate. As the chains touched the darkness, is seemed to harden and crystallize into something more solid than air. The chains reached the top of the gate just as the first shadow reached it. With a resounding crack like a stone hitting glass, the shadow bounced off the solidified darkness and vanished back into the abyss beyond. The hardened darkness shuddered and the chains of light rattled but no visible damage seemed to be done.
Landing nimbly, the Sage reached behind his back and pulled out a short metal rod. Grasping the rod in both hands, the Sage twisted each end of the rod in opposite directions. Out of each end of the rod shot an extension, making the rod a six foot quarterstaff. Raising the staff above his head, the Sage recited,
"By the power of the seven realms, by the nine pillars of elemental magnum mysterium, I seal this door. I am the lock, there is no key. I am the guardian, you shall not pass. By nine elements you are bound, and by no less than nine shall you be released."
Then the Sage struck the center of the door with the staff. The staff shone a brilliant white and the Sage's body glowed like the sun. The earth shook and the air around the door shimmered. Suddenly, a pillar of ice shot up out of the ground and closed the left pillar while a swirling vortex of wind descended from above and coalesced around the right pillar. Vines, tree branches, and all manner of plant life encircled the top arch. Giant tongues of fire sprouted from the top of each pillar. The earth around the pillars rose up and enclosed the ice and wind. The pillar on the left quickly acquired a layer of frost around it while the right whistled and howled. The bolts of lightning racing across the door came together and formed three horizontal beams of energy, while five waterfalls spouted out of the top arch and cascaded down the door. All the while the mage howled and when all these were completed shouted,
"BE SEALED!"
A flash of light and a peal of thunder and then silence enveloped everything. Where the Sage had struck his staff on the door now hung a glowing padlock of light, binding the chains. The Sage had vanished, consumed by the spell. The sealed door stood alone on its precipice silent and watchful.
Elsewhere…
Strange and powerful beings had watched the efforts and sacrifice of the Sage. They sat on glowing marble thrones, absolute rulers of their realm. One of them stirred and sat up to address the rest. His voice bespoke crashing waves and peals of thunder as he said,
"A new guardian is needed."
Another being, cloaked in fire, sat up as well and turned to the first being.
"Yes, but from where?"
A third being, so radiant and bright than none but those assembled could look upon him stroked his glowing beard and stared into the totlonse, the swirling pool they used to see far off events, and then raised his hand. Silence descended immediately and the radiant being said,
"The cycle must continue. The realm of ice and wind is next in the cycle."
The radiant being turned another being that sat on a frozen throne and had a tornado diadem above his head.
"Contact Aniu. Let the search begin."