Chapter 31
Marcus got more and more anxious the deeper into the Ghostly Woods they got. Around them in all directions were tall ancient trees, their tops hidden in mist. A narrow trail winded its way in between the gnarled and curled roots.
"I'm scared!" said Octavia, grasping the hem of Julian's robe.
"Theses woods are rumored to be haunted," said Serpentarius grimly.
"It's not the ghosts that worry me," said Marcus, earning a sharp look from Serpentarius.
"Magus Balthazar has been good to the Academy," suggested Julian hopefully.
"Only because Poltergeist has favored us," reminded Serpentarius, "If she turns against us, so will the Magus."
"I'm tired of hearing your blasphemy," said Marcus.
They reached a clearing. Ahead of them stood a silvery lake. Not a breath of air disturbed the surface of the water. The mirror like surface reflected the trees on the opposite shore. In the reflection they could make out a faint outline of a face. An old monolithic structure made of rough-hewn blocks of gray stone stood on the east shore.
"The Temple of Poltergeist," said Julian in awe.
"No, really?" asked Marcus sardonically.
"We'd better hurry," said Octavia.
As they reached the entrance, the massive stone doors slowly lumbered open. They walked down a long corridor lined with torched and statues showing monsters writhing in torment. They passed a side passage lined with cell doors. They looked disused. They reached an octagonal central chamber. Several trapdoors were mounted in the ceiling, but they were closed. The only illumination came from fires burning in recesses in the walls. Against the back wall was a black basalt carving of a centaur encased in flaming armor. Huge eagle wings swept backwards from its back. Balthazar was kneeling in front of the statue. He picked up a stick and used it to get to his feet slowly and painfully.
"Welcome to my temple," he said once he had caught his breath.
"Thank you for having us," said Julian bowing stiffly.
"Nice to see you again Gramps!" said Octavia cheerfully.
Marcus and Serpentarius looked horrified.
"Octavia shut up!" snapped Marcus.
Balthazar laughed heartily and patted the brim of Octavia's hat. "Now Marcus, she can call me Gramps if she wants."
Marcus grumbled as the Magus led them down a passageway to a staircase going down.
"Here is the way to No Man's Land," he said.
"Gramps, what's No Man's Land?" asked Octavia.
"The heart of our continent," he replied, "It is land not claimed by any of the three goddesses. Now where would that be?"
"The temples are our guide to finding Atma," said Julian pensively, "So it must be the place that is equally far from all three temples."
"That would be Tzen!" said Marcus triumphantly.
"Almost," said Balthazar sneering, "What's just north of Tzen?"
"A small mountain range in the shape of a star," said Serpentarius.
The Magus put his hand on Serpentarius' shoulder. "Exactly my boy! That's where you're going!"
Serpentarius looked ill at ease. Marcus looked at Balthazar.
"How are we going to get there?" he asked.
"Go down this staircase," he replied, "It will take you directly there. All three temples have these transporters."
Balthazar handed a torch to Marcus, who led the Raj down the winding stairs. They went past strange alcoves with small ugly statues inside. After traveling for what seemed like ages they reached a passageway that seemed to be carved out of the bedrock itself. They entered a small chamber. A glistening star hovered in the center of the room, casting a faint orange light over everything.
"So the other two Temples have this transporter as well?" asked Marcus?
"I guess so," replied Julian.
"Are we ready?" inquired Octavia.
"There is no ready," said Serpentarius as he walked into the transporter, shimmering, then vanishing.
The rest of the Raj silently regarded each other, then disappeared, one by one, into the light.
Marcus got more and more anxious the deeper into the Ghostly Woods they got. Around them in all directions were tall ancient trees, their tops hidden in mist. A narrow trail winded its way in between the gnarled and curled roots.
"I'm scared!" said Octavia, grasping the hem of Julian's robe.
"Theses woods are rumored to be haunted," said Serpentarius grimly.
"It's not the ghosts that worry me," said Marcus, earning a sharp look from Serpentarius.
"Magus Balthazar has been good to the Academy," suggested Julian hopefully.
"Only because Poltergeist has favored us," reminded Serpentarius, "If she turns against us, so will the Magus."
"I'm tired of hearing your blasphemy," said Marcus.
They reached a clearing. Ahead of them stood a silvery lake. Not a breath of air disturbed the surface of the water. The mirror like surface reflected the trees on the opposite shore. In the reflection they could make out a faint outline of a face. An old monolithic structure made of rough-hewn blocks of gray stone stood on the east shore.
"The Temple of Poltergeist," said Julian in awe.
"No, really?" asked Marcus sardonically.
"We'd better hurry," said Octavia.
As they reached the entrance, the massive stone doors slowly lumbered open. They walked down a long corridor lined with torched and statues showing monsters writhing in torment. They passed a side passage lined with cell doors. They looked disused. They reached an octagonal central chamber. Several trapdoors were mounted in the ceiling, but they were closed. The only illumination came from fires burning in recesses in the walls. Against the back wall was a black basalt carving of a centaur encased in flaming armor. Huge eagle wings swept backwards from its back. Balthazar was kneeling in front of the statue. He picked up a stick and used it to get to his feet slowly and painfully.
"Welcome to my temple," he said once he had caught his breath.
"Thank you for having us," said Julian bowing stiffly.
"Nice to see you again Gramps!" said Octavia cheerfully.
Marcus and Serpentarius looked horrified.
"Octavia shut up!" snapped Marcus.
Balthazar laughed heartily and patted the brim of Octavia's hat. "Now Marcus, she can call me Gramps if she wants."
Marcus grumbled as the Magus led them down a passageway to a staircase going down.
"Here is the way to No Man's Land," he said.
"Gramps, what's No Man's Land?" asked Octavia.
"The heart of our continent," he replied, "It is land not claimed by any of the three goddesses. Now where would that be?"
"The temples are our guide to finding Atma," said Julian pensively, "So it must be the place that is equally far from all three temples."
"That would be Tzen!" said Marcus triumphantly.
"Almost," said Balthazar sneering, "What's just north of Tzen?"
"A small mountain range in the shape of a star," said Serpentarius.
The Magus put his hand on Serpentarius' shoulder. "Exactly my boy! That's where you're going!"
Serpentarius looked ill at ease. Marcus looked at Balthazar.
"How are we going to get there?" he asked.
"Go down this staircase," he replied, "It will take you directly there. All three temples have these transporters."
Balthazar handed a torch to Marcus, who led the Raj down the winding stairs. They went past strange alcoves with small ugly statues inside. After traveling for what seemed like ages they reached a passageway that seemed to be carved out of the bedrock itself. They entered a small chamber. A glistening star hovered in the center of the room, casting a faint orange light over everything.
"So the other two Temples have this transporter as well?" asked Marcus?
"I guess so," replied Julian.
"Are we ready?" inquired Octavia.
"There is no ready," said Serpentarius as he walked into the transporter, shimmering, then vanishing.
The rest of the Raj silently regarded each other, then disappeared, one by one, into the light.