Fan Fiction ❯ The Path to Adventure ❯ Illusions ( Chapter 7 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Hey hey hey! Yet another chapter for you all to read! Enjoi.



Chapter 7: Illusions


The morning came quickly. In both hotel rooms the sun shone through open curtains as the teens struggled to awaken. Laura and Kira were the first ones to actually get up. They took quick five minute showers (New record, for both of them!) and gathered their things.

The guys also took quick showers and got their things ready for departure. When everyone was ready, they enjoyed a quick, continental breakfast before leaving the hotel. According to numerous city dwellers, who were now sleeping, and their city map, a small town was only fifteen miles to the north from Sparkville.

The only thing that stood in their way was a small forest. It was almost directly in-between Sparkville and the country town, Cherry Grove. Karl had heard a few rumors about the forest which everyone seemed to refer to as the “Forest of Illusion.” It was rumored that secretive mages that specialize in Illusion magic reside there.

Crossing the forest would be a simple task, if not for the illusions. Any person that attempted to tread the forest was destined to go insane as they encountered illusion after illusion. Eventually they could no longer determine illusion from reality and would continue to endlessly roam the forest until their demise.

As the whole gang left Sparkville’s northern gate, they said farewell to the gate keeper and marched along the winding cobblestone path that led out of the city and to the forest. They did not hurry. All were intent on enjoying the beautiful day and being away from the city again.

Kira and Laura picked a wide variety of exotic flowers and made them into necklaces for themselves to wear. Shuijin, Katsumoto, and Karl held a small three-way contest which consisted of various stunts which proved things like strength, agility, and mind-over-matter. Shuijin and Katsumoto tied for this contest’s champion. Everyone was enjoying themselves.

Until the forest suddenly loomed before them, out of simply nowhere. An illusion. Already they had countered an illusion, and they weren’t even inside the forest. The illusion made the forest invisible from far away.

The winding path continued to go through the forest. On both sides of the four foot wide path, various kinds of tall trees stood cluttered.

“So this is the Forest of Illusion,” Katsumoto said in rhetorical form.

“...Should be interesting,” Karl added.


Both boys were right.


****************


Deep within the Forest of Illusion, a meeting was being held. The nine Mages of Azul sat around an aged oak table. They were inside an even older, hollowed out, Willow Tree. The mages were all short creatures, only about four feet tall. They all wore colored robes with matching wizard hats. In each of their right hands was a small, foot tall, rod with a spectacular jagged orb resting at its top.

“The dark mists are approaching, we have been betrayed,” the eldest mage confirmed to the awaiting council.

“Matri has betrayed us even though we have fulfilled our duty,” the mage to the eldest’s right explained.

“What is to be done?” a young looking mage questioned his council members eagerly.

“Only what can be done,” the eldest answered, “we fight.”

A quiet murmur arose as the rest of the council shared mixed feelings.

“But can we even stand against the mist?” a quiet-voiced woman spoke up.

“And can we take on the heartless?” the youngest mage added.

“I’m certain we can, but first we need the final ingredient for Omega,” the eldest tried to boost the others’ hopes.


****************


Shuijin led the group into the dark forest. He was followed closely by Kira, who was trailed by Katsumoto. Laura followed closely behind Katsumoto. Karl was at the rear of the single file line. They strolled cautiously through the enchanted woods.

After five or so minutes of walking, all of nature’s little noises ceased. No more bird chipping. No more wind blowing through the trees and hair. No more twigs snapping or leaves rustling. Nothing but utter silence.

No one dared to speak. No one could. The current illusion they were up against prevented noise. Their mouths were moving but no words came out. The girls panicked. Laura clung to Kat while Kira hugged Shuijin tightly from behind. Karl kept lookout from behind as they trudged through the Forest of Illusion.

Soon the group came to a break in the dense trees, and sunlight could be seen and felt, beaming through the sky into the small opening of the treetops. They rested for a while, now being able to speak again.

“It felt so weird, not being able to hear anything,” Karl started.

“It felt worse not being able to talk, it’s what me and Laura do best!” Kira explained.

“Ya, it sure was nice not hearing you two talking every waking moment,” Shuijin playfully said, receiving shoves from both girls.

“Well,” Shuijin laughed as Katsumoto added, “I was so happy to be able to hear silence that I, almost, missed your constant chattering.”

He received two similar shoves to what Shuijin had gotten. Everyone laughed. They enjoyed their break a little longer before setting out, down the dark path through the forest.

As they were walking, the, once hard, ground was becoming mushy and their footprints were being pressed into the soft dirt more easily. They were all walking along the trail, when Kat began to sink into the quicksand-like dirt.

“AHHHHH!” Kat frantically shouted while reaching for something sturdy to hold onto. He gripped a large boulder and tried hauling himself upward.

“Try not to move much,” Laura advised while Karl and Shuijin were offering their hands.

“It’s no use, we can’t reach him and still be safe ourselves,” Karl noticed.

“Shuijin, throw him the rest of the rope we have!” Kira exclaimed.

Shuijin remembered the leftover rope from the storm and withdrew it from his pack. Quickly he tossed it to the ever-sinking Kat, who readily grabbed hold of it.

Karl, Shuijin, and Kira pulled Kat up while Laura gave out cheers and advice. Once Katsumoto was safe on hard ground, they all took another break. When they started again, they made it to a large open space in the forest where many tree house looking structures stood.

In the center of the vast open space, a larger tree house stood proudly. It was an immense Willow Tree. The gang climbed up the rope ladder that led to the tree’s wooden balcony. They reached the balcony and entered the house calling, “Hello! Is anybody here!?”


When they had almost given up, a round oak table with numerous mages around it appeared from seemingly nowhere. Another invisibility illusion. The eldest mage spoke up first.

“Hello, there travelers. I speak for all of the Mages of Azul when I apologize for the twisted illusions. We were merely trying to protect ourselves from harm.”

Shuijin, Kira, Laura, Kat, and Karl introduced themselves.

“We have some business that needs to be discussed if you don’t mind,” the mage to the left of the eldest began.

“A long while ago we made an agreement with a dark sorceress. She gave her word that she would leave our forest untouched by darkness if we prevented travelers from crossing through here. We have done an excellent job on our part, but she has betrayed us. Right now, even as we speak, the dark mists are coming to take over the forest,” the eldest informed the five teens.

“What was the sorceress’s name?” questioned Katsumoto.

The elder replied, “Matri.”


****************


The mists were coming.


****************


After they were well fed, the mages led them each to their own rooms. The rooms were small, but comfortable. A soft bed was located in the center of each room. They all closed their weary eyes and slept away their long day of illusion. Both Kat and Shuijin had a vision.


********Kat and Shuijin’s vision ********

Both boys stood in an all white room. It was white on the walls, floor, and ceiling. No other color, just white. Shuijin and Kat looked at each other. They instantly knew this wasn’t a normal dream. They were both in the same dream. Two minds in one dream.

Suddenly the dark mist began pouring from the room’s corners. The room was soon engulfed in the mist. Kat was slightly afraid, Shuijin was not. From beneath their feet the ground began feeling soft and watery.


When Kat looked down he saw that Shuijin and he were standing in, what appeared to be, a dark pond. The dark waters pulled them both downwards, with Kat struggling to free himself. The waters had completely consumed the boys.

They weren’t underwater however. They were sliding on their backs, with Shuijin in the lead, through a winding, narrow tunnel. Its walls were neon purple and appeared watery. Black ripples echoed throughout the tunnel.

When the end of the long tunnel came, both boys shot out of the passage. They fell downward a good ten feet into more dark waters. These waters, unlike the previous ones, did not consume them.

Shuijin and Katsumoto stood up. As far as their eyes could see, in every direction, were dark, shallow waters. A few small strips of dry land could be seen poking out from the waters. Shuijin looked upward. The sky directly above them was entirely black, besides the numerous stars. The horizon, though, was not black, it was purple. Purple and white clouds hovered high above the waters, giving nearly everything a purple tint.

Kat pointed out that this place had three moons, each one at least twice as big as their own moon.

“This place must have killer tides,” Kat joked while seeing the worried expression on Shuijin’s face.

“Kat,” Shuijin began, “I don’t know if this is really a dream,” he revealed.

Kat took the idea into consideration. He solemnly nodded in agreement. How often do two people have the same dream, at the same time, and see each other in it? Not very often Kat concluded.

“Where do you think we are?” Kat questioned his friend.

Shuijin thought for a moment before replying, “The World of Darkness.”

Both boys shuddered with realization.


********

Laura, Kira, and Karl were hastily awoken by the Mages of Azul. The Elder mage revealed the terrifying news.

“The mist draws near, we have little time to prepare,” he began as the trio tried to follow, “We have yet to discover the final ingredient to Omega, meaning our fight may be in vain,” he took a quick breath before continuing, “That’s not the only loss either. Sometime in the night your friends Katsumoto and Shuijin were taken... by the Dark Father.”

“The WHAT!” Laura shrieked while Kira and Karl stared unbelievingly at the short Elder.

“The Dark Father,” the Elder explained, “he controls the World of Darkness.”


********


The boys walked, trudging along through the dark waters looking for anything that could help them return home. The foot high waters continued for miles in every direction. The small islands also continued appearing. They walked from island to island, never seeing any new sights.


********

A powerful being, clad in an all black robe, adjusted its hood, which was pulled upward. It sat in a dark, mysterious keep, unlike Matri’s mountain keep. The stone keep sat perched on a steep cliff, overlooking the endless dark waters and the vast violet sky.

A tall creature, also wearing a black robe, appeared before the Dark Father.

“Shall I allow them to find the Keep?” It asked its master.

The Dark Father nodded its hooded head and answered in its deep, commanding voice, “Keep the heartless away until they reach the Keep.”

“It shall be done,” the servant stated as it turned and walked out from the spacious room.


********Chapter End ********


Oh no! Kat and Shuijin are stuck in the World of Darkness! Make sure you review and tell me how you like the story so far. Enjoi.