November 7, 2002
Shades of Gray: Journey into the Vortex, Chapter I
The planet of Etheria has gotten unstable over the years as the presence of an unknown source of dark magic threatens to take it over. Several witnesses have seen what look like visitors from outside of the Etherian atmosphere enter and then disappear beyond a rocky mountain land just beyond the Whispering Woods. The magical kingdom of Bright Moon has dispatched some of its best soldiers and pilots to venture beyond the woods and check out the deserted rocky domain that so many have feared. Until they have returned, the residents wait and hope that these visitors mean no harm and will leave us in peace.
Three aircraft sailed through the dense gray clouds as they started their descent after just taking off from the small landing strip in Bright Moon. Two smaller one-man ships followed the larger one that was carrying about twenty of Bright Moon's top soldiers. The larger ship started to slow down as it came close to almost touching the ground.
Aboard the large ship, several soldiers were armed and standing on a strip that went from the cockpit to the back of the aircraft. They were all anxious, ready for the ship to land, and march out onto that unchartered rocky territory that very few had any knowledge of.
The pilot, an older gray haired gentleman about in his fifties pushed down on the button and said to the two smaller ships that were tailing them. "Units three and four, you see anything on your scopes. We need to get this baby on the ground".
A young voice came across the speakers on the control board and said, "Micah here, we have nothing on our scopes. Unless you see otherwise, we are safe to land".
"Micah, you old enough to fly those things. Didn't think your father would ever allow you out of the castle", said the man, as he stroked his short beard and laughed.
"My father knows I am one of Bright Moon's best pilots. He'd be a fool to let me sit and waste my skills", said the voice, as it started to crackle.
"Very well. Three and four, go ahead and land. We'll meet you on the ground", said the pilot of the large aircraft.
The small aircraft just slowed to almost a stop and lowered themselves onto the ground. Two young men crawled out of each one of the aircraft, jumped down onto the ground, and met each other between their rides.
One man took off his helmet to reveal a head of thick red hair that was pulled back into a ponytail. He walked over the other pilot and cried, "Micah, your father is so set on keeping you grounded. How did you learn to fly like that?"
Micah took off his helmet. His thick brown hair was wet and flattened against his scalp. He brushed the hair that was hanging in his face back to reveal his handsome features. He was clean-shaven except for a little hair above his lip and blue eyes that stood out among the rest of his features.
Micah smiled and said, "My father knows I can fly, but he does not know that late at night, I have snuck into the castle's hanger and gone for a little flight. The guards know me and don't seem to care as long as I am back before seven am which is when they change over."
"Oh, Micah, you had better hope the king does not find out because he would be none too pleased", said the red haired young man.
"Where did the carrier go? They said they were going to land. I know I heard them right, Satchel", said Micah.
"You did. Come on. There is a lot of fog and dust in this area. Maybe we can't see them very well", said Satchel, as he grabbed a hold of Micah's arm and both of them ran in the direction where they thought the carrier was headed.
The dust and debris got really heavy as Micah and Satchel tried to make their way to wherever they had hoped to find their ship they were assigned to guard. Satchel started to cough really hard as he had inhaled large quantities of dust. He bent over. Micah rushed over to him; for fear that he might be choking.
"Satchel! Are you going to live?" asked Micah.
Satchel cleared his lungs and stood up. He faced Micah with watery eyes.
"The dust is horrible here. It is no wonder no one has the balls to come this far out of Bright Moon", said Satchel.
"It is not the dust that is horrible. I have this feeling that something is not right. How can we lose a large aircraft?" asked Micah, as he stared up at the dust that was swirling overhead.
Satchel looked around and suddenly exclaimed, "Micah, over there. There is our ship".
Micah and Satchel started to run toward the ship that seemed to sit, lifeless in the sand and rock that made up the majority of this land.
"Satchel, something is not right. Why aren't they getting off the ship?" asked Micah, as he stopped.
"Micah, it is one of our ships. I am going to check it out", said Satchel.
"Satchel, wait, I have a bad feeling", said Micah, as he stood still, his legs barely able to move one step further.
Micah closed his eyes to keep the dust from getting into them. He heard a loud explosion that knocked him backwards several feet. He had his eyes shut, but even through the thin skin on his eyelids, he could see that it was a sudden flash of bright light. It was just seconds that he rubbed his eyes, got some vision, and looked ahead to where he had been. What had been the large aircraft, that had carried so many of Bright Moon's skilled soldiers, was nothing but mangled chunks of metal and shattered glass. He took a step forward and fell forward on his face as he had tripped over something. He looked over to see what he had fallen over and saw the face of his friend and crewmate, Satchel, staring blankly into nothing. Micah did not have to go and find out that he was indeed dead. His eyes did not go any farther than his neck. The rest he just refused to process into his head and then he looked away, wondering if whatever had attacked the ship and friend was going to attack him too.
"I'm going down to Whispering Woods", said announced Princess Angella, as she walked past her mother and father in the lounge of their huge castle in Bright Moon.
"Angella, dear, why do you want to go down there? If you are planning to go farther, then I will not allow it", said King Zandor, a large built man with curly brown hair that came to his shoulders.
"Father, I want to see Madam Razz and the twiggets. You know I would not cross into the desolate land. I'll be safe in the woods. I just want to see if I can gather any news on our soldiers from down there", said Angella, as she stood, staring out the window with her back to her parents.
"I want you to stay out of this business, Angella", said Zandor.
Angella turned around, looking angry at her father and cried, "It is my business too, Father. You keep forgetting that I am one day going to be queen of this castle".
"Angella, I have not forgotten that, but you keep forgetting that you are only nineteen years old and have many years until you are even mature enough about considering taking on more responsibilities", said Zandor.
"Then when am I going to even know what is going on in this castle. You tend to keep everything from me", said snapped Angella.
"Angella, dear, you are just a child. There is more to being a ruler than just sitting on the throne and getting your way all the time, which is not always true", said Zandor, as he placed his hand on Angella's shoulder.
Angella threw back her shoulders, and stretched her large angel like wings a few feet then pulled them back closer to her body. She and her younger sister, Princess Hope, had inherited their mother's large angel wings and magical powers. Queen Isabella was originally of a race of winged magical beings from the city of Mizar before she met and fell in love with King Zandor and became his queen, to rule the throne of Bright Moon along side of him. Angella, being the oldest, was next in line to take over the throne and become Bright Moon's queen.
Angella looked down at the ground and asked, "Well, would it be all right if I go to the woods? I promise I will not go any farther than that. I am safe with Madam Razz. You know that, Father".
Zandor looked over at Isabella who shook her head in agreement with Angella. Zandor then looked at Angella and said, "Okay, Angella. You may join your friends in Whispering Woods, but I know that your mother here has powers that can trace you. I had better not find out you have wondered into that desolate land we have feared may be dangerous".
"Thank you, Father, and you have my word. I'll keep in touch somehow if I do find out anything from my station in the Whispering Woods", said Angella.
King Zandor and Queen Isabella watched as their daughter opened the window, letting in a cool breeze that swept through the castle with an eerie howl. Angella spread her wings and dived out of the window. Once clear of the frame, she spread her huge wings and took off into the sky, flying over the small farms that surrounded the kingdom of Bright Moon and heading toward the magical Whispering Woods.
Zandor shook his head and turned toward his wife. "I worry about her, Isabella. I will never understand the magical that flows through both of your veins which makes me more fearful, that Angella will get herself into some sort of trouble".
"It does me nothing to tell you not to worry since I know you will never understand our magic, but I can reassure you, that Angella is quite powerful. She advanced so much quicker when we sent her to Mystacore's Academy of Magic when she was a child. She, like others in our race are born with this power and have this natural instinct on knowing exactly how to use it. She was the envy of her class. Mystacore's does have some of the most powerful sorcerers and sorceresses, but they have so much training they have to endure before they become that", said Isabella.
"You are right, Isabella, but Angella and Hope are my daughters and I do worry about them. I know she is capable of taking care of herself, but as her father, I do worry", said Zandor.
"Well, my magical maternal instincts are in tuned to her mind, and I assure you, if she was in any sort of danger, I would know. If I sense that something is wrong, I will let you know and send any forces to wherever she may be", said Isabella.
Young Liora Light Spinner stood among her classmates at the Academy of Magic. She had grown a little taller and accomplished much in her magical abilities since Norwyn had discovered her and Castaspella when they were orphans three years ago and taken them on as his students. Liora was now a lanky twelve-year-old who was so eager to become a top-notch sorceress. She spent much of her life studying and getting into mischief with Castaspella, a seven-year-old student who was the closest she had to a sister. Many thought Liora and Castaspella too be sisters even though their physical appearances differed slightly. Liora had straight blond hair that hung to her shoulders, sometimes a few braids hung on one side in order to keep some of her stray hairs from out of her face. Her dark blue eyes were both intense and mysterious, especially in comparison to her pale complexion. Castaspella, or Cassie as her peers often called her, had long dark reddish brown hair that hung on her shoulders in unruly curls. She had blue eyes like Liora, but they did not seem to have that mysterious intense look that Liora was so known for.
Even though Liora and Castaspella were students of Norwyn, they had to regularly attend classes once a week with the other students at the Academy of Magic, to make sure they were all learning at the same pace. Liora did not mind getting to practice magic with students her own age, but she wished that she did not have to work with Mortella, another student of the Academy that was about the same age. Mortella seemed to enjoy tormenting Liora, and even knew things about her life that she had not known.
"Hey, Light Spinner, I am surprised they even let you come here, even after your parents went here", said Mortella, followed by a wicked laugh.
"Shut up, Mortella, you don't even know my parents", snapped Liora.
"Neither do you. Norwyn only took you on because he felt sorry for you. Every one knows that Castaspella is the one that everyone sees as becoming Mystacore's greatest sorceress ever known", said Mortella.
"Norwyn never said such things. He doesn't know about my parents. He treats Castaspella and me as if we were his own daughters", cried Liora.
"You seem so naïve to be a sorceress. How surprising you come here not knowing a bit of truth to your background", said Mortella.
Liora tried to block out the words of Mortella, as they were starting to sting. She had never known her background. All she knew was that Castaspella's parents had taken her in when she was very young, but for some reason, she had always had the surname of Light Spinner. She was only nine years old when her foster family had perished in a mysterious explosion. Until then, she was more concerned of being a big sister to their young daughter, Castaspella. They had grown up like sisters, inseparable and connected by a kindred spirit. As their magic grew stronger, they could read each other's thoughts and know what the other was thinking. Never had Norwyn gave any inclination that he thought Castaspella to be the better sorceress. He had said that with the strong bond between Liora and Castaspella was that they would be duo that many would not mess with.
This classroom was designed more like a gymnasium, with equipment that resembled monkey bars, balancing beams, and of high bars. This class was stressing on levitation, on how easy it would be for a magical being to just float in midair and land on the high beam, with no effort whatsoever. Liora had no problem with her levitation skills when she was with Norwyn, but her thoughts were not with her studies but with her nemesis, Mortella. She tried to block out a fear that if she messed up once her turn was up, Mortella would taunt her. When her name was called, she slowly made her way to the front of the class and stared at the high beams that stood about fifty feet from the ground. She had done this several times, but she could not help but feel Mortella's eyes on her, wishing her to fail. She stood still, her emotions taking over her ability to concentrate.
"Liora Light Spinner, we are waiting. Are you going to float to that beam or should I call someone else?" asked the instructor, a short gray haired woman about in her sixties.
Mortella started to laugh, getting a few of her classmates to join in on her. "You afraid, Light Spinner?" asked Mortella.
The instructor turned her head toward Mortella and snapped, "Silence, Mortella, you shall have your turn next".
Liora stared hard at the beam, concentrated on landing her feet on it. She raised her hand upward, feeling the magic flow through her body. She felt her body go weightless, as she floated upward toward the beam. She was about to prepare for her feet to touch the bar. First, one foot hit the beam firmly, but her second foot just touched the edge, and she slipped. Suddenly her concentration had been broken and she had lost all feeling of the magic. She felt her body fall, the beam rising even higher and higher, until she hit a soft mat. The mat had cushioned her fall, but after falling fifty feet, it still sent a shock that shook up her entire body. She closed her eyes, trying to block the pain, but the pain was not as bad as the laughs of Mortella that followed her fall. When she opened her eyes, she saw that Mortella was standing over her, with a huge smile on her face.
"Well, well, our great sorceress, Liora Light Spinner, cannot even pass this simple test of levitation. I bet your sister could gracefully float to the one hundred foot beam", said Mortella, as she kneeled down beside Liora.
Liora tried to fight her tears. She felt her anger start to take over, leaving a burning feeling in her chest. She hated Mortella. She clenched her teeth and her fists. When she sat up, she wasted no time taking her fist and driving it into the side of Mortella's jaws. Mortella screamed in pain. She grabbed Liora by the hair and pulled hard. Liora tried to block the pain as she took both of her hands and grabbed a hold of Mortella's dark hair and became to pull. She felt so much rage in her that she did not care if she pulled Mortella's hair out of its scalp and drew blood. She wanted her to pay for anything she had even said to her. Liora would have seriously hurt Mortella if she had not heard a familiar voice call her name.
"Liora, what is going on?" asked Norwyn as he ran into the classroom, and grabbed Liora by the waist, lifting her off Mortella.
Mortella sat up on the ground, holding her jaw and crying, "She tried to kill me".
"She said horrible things to me, Norwyn. I tried to ignore them but I couldn't", sobbed Liora, as Norwyn looked down at her, disappointedly.
Norwyn looked embarrassed as he looked over at the instructor who did not look any too happy. "I am terribly sorry, Madam Starfly. I promise Liora and I will have a little talk and this will never happen again".
"I sure hope it doesn't, Norwyn. Please control your students", said Madam Starfly angrily.
Liora and Norwyn hardly spoke to each other the whole walk to his quarters. She had been warned so many times to not let her emotions get in the way of her magic, but Mortella's taunting had started to wear at her for so long. It was true that Liora had not known a thing about her family. Perhaps Mortella had gotten some information from her own family that had been in Mystacore for years. Perhaps Mortella's parents did know Liora's parents.
"Norwyn, I am really sorry about what happened", Liora finally said as they neared the door to their small quarters where they resided in the Enchanted Castle of Mystacore.
"You mean that, Liora?" asked Norwyn.
"Yes", replied Liora.
"Your thoughts say otherwise. I know you may not forgive Mortella so easily for saying those things, but you have to control yourself. What Mortella says about you and your family should have no bearing on who you are as a person. I may know your parents, but they did indeed do terrible things, then it should have no reflection on you, for you are Liora Light Spinner and no one else. I would not have taken you and Cassie on as students if I did not think you had the talent to become powerful mages. Take Mortella's words like a grain of salt and do what you have to do. If you get into any more fights, I might not have a say anymore whether the Academy of Magic will allow you to continue", said Norwyn.
"Yes, Norwyn. I understand", said Liora, as she lowered her head.
Norwyn opened the door to their quarters that they lived in. It was anything Liora had ever imagined. Their home consisted of one large living area with furniture and a table to sit at least eight. The kitchen was equally as huge, which only Norwyn knew how to operate since it was enchanted. His bedroom, the master bedroom was almost as large as the living room with not just a bed to sleep on but two large couches. He had his own bathroom that was almost as large. Liora and Castaspella shared a bedroom. It was not as huge as Norwyn's room, but it was nothing like they had had when they shared a small bedroom in a shack in the village of Gailheart. Each night, Liora and Castaspella would talk and share their magical secrets before falling asleep. Sometimes they would get a little too loud and Norwyn would knock on the door telling them to be quiet and go to sleep. Once Liora tried to show Castaspella a trick by turning the flowers on a potted plant into cold coins, but it went wrong, and ended up making the plant explode, leaving dirt and ceramic pieces all over the room. Norwyn was not too happy to be woken up in the middle of the night and made both girls clean up the mess using no magic. He stood in the doorway and watched to make sure they did not try anything until they were finished. That following day of lessons did not go so well as Norwyn was obviously tired and angry with the girls.
Norwyn walked in first into their quarters. Liora walked in slowly behind him. She dreaded what the rest of the day would be like. She expected that she would be getting a lecture by Norwyn on why it was wrong to attack a classmate that was making fun of you. Liora's mood was slightly lifted when Castaspella came running into the room. Her bright blue eyes were full of life and excitement as she ran right up to Liora.
"Liora, what did you do today? My teacher made us invisible. I don't know how, but I got to see how it felt like. It was so great", said Castaspella.
Liora smiled, not knowing what to say. She looked over at Norwyn who looked disapprovingly at her. She then looked to Castaspella and said, "Well, Cassie, I punched some other girl in my class and now I am in big trouble tonight".
"Really? Did you beat her up?" asked Castaspella, sounding anxious to hear more.
"Cassie! What Liora did was wrong and she has to learn how to react using her head and not using her emotions. We have to learn that others may say things that we don't like but we have to ignore it and go about our business", said Norwyn.
Norwyn was about to close the door to his quarters when the door seemed to push open from the outside. An older gentleman, just slightly older than Norwyn pushed his way into the room.
"Candor, what on earth are you doing here?" asked Norwyn.
"I am sorry to just barge in you like this, but I saw that the door was slightly open. I have heard that many strange things have happened", said Candor.
Norwyn stepped aside from the door and let Candor step completely inside. Norwyn looked at him with a look of confusion.
"Girls, I suggest you go to your rooms and stay there until I come get you", said Norwyn, as he looked over at Liora and Castaspella.
Liora did not want to argue for she was already in enough trouble with Norwyn and the Academy of Magic. She took Castaspella by the hand, and together they went into their bedroom and closed the door behind them.
Norwyn watched as Liora and Castaspella disappeared into their bedroom and then turned toward Candor. "Has something happened? On more than occasion I have heard of these rumors that strange things have been happening in that dark mountain range that lies just beyond the Whispering Woods", said Norwyn.
"Cosmic Enforcers have told us that a lot of activity has been going on in that part of the atmosphere around that area. We are being invaded by some intergalactic beings but we are not sure whether they are friendly and looking for a new home or they are out to destroy us. I have also gotten word that somebody that once resided here in Mystacore is somehow part of this invasion", said Candor, his voice sounding slightly out of breath.
"Who is this person? Do I know her?" asked Norwyn.
"Well, she was before your time, but I knew her as a young boy. She was banished from the Academy when she was found to be using black magic. It has been years since anyone has ever heard from her", said Candor.
"Who was this woman? What was her name?" asked Norwyn.
"Rhianna Graylight", replied Candor.
Norwyn froze for a second and then said, "I have heard of her. She was rumored to have been some dark witch and when the council found out, then banished her from Mystacore. People have said that she died, since she has never been heard from since then. What makes them think that she is involved?" asked Norwyn.
"Just some sightings with in the past few years that this strange stuff has been occurring including the explosion at Gailheart that killed the families of your two students. She has been practicing this type of magic for years and she is capable of opening up a channel into the atmosphere that could allow for faster space travel for members of another world to enter. We have to get involved and find out what is going on", said Candor.
"What do you mean we? I am not that powerful. I have other responsibilities such as my students. I cannot leave them", said Norwyn.
"We are sending several sorcerers and your students may have to come to. I know it sounds dangerous, but we are heading into some dangerous times and they may have to see what kind of world they are getting into", said Candor.
"My students are not going to that desolate place. I will not have them being exposed to the dark arts", said Norwyn.
"Well, they can't just live on thinking that everything is white. They must know that not all magic is good and they have to know how to identify it and know how to protect themselves from it. Please consider it, Norwyn. I will leave you know, for tomorrow is a whole day", said Candor.
"Please do, Candor. I shall see tomorrow morning", said Norwyn, as he gestured toward the door.
Candor bowed as he walked toward the door. Before Norwyn shut the door behind him, he turned around and said, "Goodnight, Norwyn, and please think this through. This is the future of our very planet that we are thinking of".
"Goodnight, Candor", said Norwyn, as he nodded his head and shut the door.
Norwyn sighed and headed toward his room where he wanted to lie down and digest this information he had just received. He had heard the stories of the mysterious Rhianna Graylight, a witch that had caused all sort of trouble for Mystacore before being found out and being banished. After years of never hearing of her again, the people just went about their business assuming her dead. Norwyn had studied enough of black magic to know that she could have lived dormant for years, unknown to the outside world until she felt the time was right when she would rise again. He wondered if maybe she had found some cosmic gateway to another universe, one that might help her on her way to gaining great power. People who tended to be succumbed to black magic were those that were greedy and wanted such power and wealth that it did not make any difference who or what they hurt to get there. Black magic was seductive and possessed such power to convince those that they were missing out on something so great by sticking to the white arts. Norwyn had been told that whether you choose to practice black or white magic was a matter of choice, not something you were born with. He knew his path, but he feared for his students, so young and impressionable would be seduced by the dark arts. He would never let that happen for any teacher that had a student succumbed to black magic was an embarrassment to the Academy of Magic. A student could cross that fine line if they used their white magic to do harm to others. Once that happened, they found themselves on a downward spiral that was do difficult for even the strongest white magic to get themselves out of. Norwyn looked at the door that led to the bedroom of his students and thought that he would never let that happen to the girls. Liora Light Spinner and Castaspella were going to great sorcerers, a pair that shared such a strong bond with each other that they would be undefeatable by any dark sorcerer or sorceress.