Chapter 1: The Temple in the Woods
As the rain fell from the dark grey sky, a young girl was walking silently and reverently down the muddy dirt road. She was thinking of what her vision had meant. The vision was not like an ordinary dream or a nightmare, but in between. In her vision, Saint Christopher, dressed in white, came to her and said,
“Young one. In the name of God and all the archangels of Heaven, I have come to tell you of a task. A task no ordinary child has ever been allotted. You, my child, are very special in God’s eyes. In your life, you will have great challenges, but in every way, you will have triumph. Amen, I say to you, go into the woods, and there you will find your new destiny. Follow the earth’s path until you reach a slight turn into the deeper part of the woodlands. There, young one, you will find peace. Do not worry; we will meet again once you arrive at the temple. May the peace of the Lord be with you always. Amen.”
He then walked off into the swirling mist of white, and the vision vanished. Not paying attention to where she was going, she tripped on a rock and fell to the ground. She was now wet, and muddy. She muttered to herself, “Ugh. I really need to stop tripping, it is really annoying….”The road started to look a little different than before. She now noticed a plaque standing upright in the grass. She walked over to it and tried to read it, but it was covered in mud and…what felt like…ash. She reached into her pack and brought out a brush made from the string she picked up a few years back along the roads at Rovensburg. Gently, she brushed off the ash and mud. She then stood back and read the plaque. She gasped at what was written:
This plaque was jacked in wood on the twenty-third day of the tenth month in the year 1929.
In adage, we, the Sylarian monks of Silent Hill, hereby decree, that this temple is for worshiping the Holy Ghost.
Amen I say to you, “are you your brother’s keeper?”
Amen. Peace be with you.
The young child then understood the meaning of the message from Saint Christopher. She started to trudge down the now grassy path lined with stones. The rain had nearly begun to trickle onto her clothes, and she looked up hesitantly to realize it was only to become worse. She then kept on walking until she reached an arbor. The arbor had no roof, and was made of wood. The roof and wall posts were lined with a type of vine the little one could not identify. The walkway was of stone, leading up to a pew made of a slab of marble and an altar. She started to walk up towards the altar but stopped. “Should I go?” she thought. Then she remembered Christopher’s words: “There you will find your new destiny.” Without a doubt in her mind, she then genuflected at the arbor, and started to walk up towards the altar. When she got to the pew, she sat down and folded her hands. She began to pray:
“O’ Heavenly Father of Earth and above, I, a young girl whose name I do not know of, come on your request from Saint Christopher. Hear me on high, for I do wish to receive the message that you have bestowed onto me. For I have mercy on myself and forgive my sins in my heart, soul, and mind. My prayer goes up to you, where the angels and archangels sing in unending praise to you, the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
As if a trumpet had sounded, Saint Christopher came down and said, “Young one! You have reached the temple! The prophecy must be fulfilled!”
“What prophecy? You did not say a word about a so-called prophecy!”
“Ahem. Let me explain to you…child…in the years of the Father Almighty creating the Earth and Heaven, he told Adam of Eden to name every human that should ever walk on his Holy ground or drink from his Holy Grail. But, foretold, you, my dear, do not knoweth your name. Isn’t that so?”
“Yes, Saint Christopher. But what does that have to do with a pro…”
“Silence, child. Time will tell. Your old life should be forgotten in the swirling mist of the mind. Now, I shall bless you, and give you a new name and destiny, sent from Jesus himself. Now, bow, child, and prepare to be baptized.”
The young girl looked at the saint in utter disbelief. She had no idea that this would be her “new destiny”. She was, in truth, shocked. She did not believe in under any circumstances that this saint could even come towards her on earth. Saints belonged in Heaven to reign and be joyous with God! Yet, she was intrigued. She went up to the saint and bowed her head.
“Now child, close your eyes and dream…” he cooed. She slowly drifted her eyelids downwards and was soon fast asleep.
As soon as the girl was asleep, Christopher bowed his head, made the sign of the cross, and recited the poem the Highest One had bestowed him to recite at that very moment. He began:
AND THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN WILL SING ON HIGH
TO THE ALMIGHTY FATHER UP IN THE SKY
BLESS THE LORD, ONE AND HOLY
CRY TO THE MOON, IF ONLY IF ONLY.
TIS’ THE WORLD IN PAIN AND STRIFE
JOY WILL TRIUMPH IN THE WORLD OF LIGHT
MAY THE SAINTS OF THE SKY SING IN PRAISE:
“ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!”
TRUMPETS WILL SOUND, DRUMS WILL ROLL
MAY THE LORD BE WITH YOU NOW AND FORETOLD
SING, MY CHILDREN, TO THE GOD ALMIGHTY
“ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!”
MAY YOU BE STRONG IN LOVE AND FAITH,
MAY JESUS GUIDE YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE
TELL THE MAN THAT STARES AT THE LAME:
WHO ARE YOU JUDGE? GOD IS YOUR LIFELONG FLAME!
MAY TI’S GIRL BE BLESSED
THE SUN SHALL SHINE UPON HER
AND GRACE SHALL CONFINE
HER VERY SOUL
WHO ARE YOU TO SAY…?
THAT SHE IS NOT HOLY
SHE IS THE LIVING APOSTLE
OF OUR TIME
BLESS HER AND GIVE HER PEACE AND THANKS
AMEN.
When the saint was finished, he whispered into her ear: “Your new name is Illusen. Your task is simple: Tell the word of God to all who do not believe. Along the way you will meet a boy. You are to go with him, and he will help you along your journey. We will meet again someday, Illusen. Goodbye and good luck.” With that being said and done, the saint rose again into the high Heavens, and looked down upon Illusen. She did not know of it yet, but she had a long journey ahead, and it was only just beginning.
Chapter 2: Illusen and the Seer
When the girl woke up, she stood and looked around. The saint was nowhere to be seen. She called to him “Saint!! O’ Heavenly Saint! Hello?” Saint Christopher was gone. All that was left was an engraving into a stone that read: SAINT CHRISTOPHER: PROTECT US ALL.
“Well that sure is a lot of help. Thanks a lot, Sir.” She thought inside of her head. “What am I supposed to do now? Where am I supposed to go? What am I to do?” With all of these questions inside her head, she once again started back down the road she came. Her packet felt much heavier. She stopped, bent down, and looked inside. She took out a quill with ink, parchment, clothes, and something else. She drew it up to her face so she could see it better, but she could not make it out. It was a box, but not an ordinary one. It was different, more fragile somehow. It said: Do not open this box until you reach the town of Mazarin.
“Mazarin? I have never heard of that town before…hmm…interesting. But where would I go to find this so called, ‘Mazarin’?”
“I…can help….young child…”
She suddenly turned around to find a young woman standing behind her. An elderly woman who looked the age of 80 stood in a dark blue cloak and black tattered robe. She had long grey hair and wrinkled hands. But what startled Illusen was that the elderly woman had a purple glass eye. It was beautiful, yet totally terrifying all at once. She waked towards Illusen and stood beside her. Illusen began:
“Erm….who are you?”
“I…child….am a Seer….and a very young one at that.”
“Ah, well, my name is Illusen. Yours?”
“Oh, no, no, no, child, I cannot give you my birth name. That is to be kept secret among the Elders, but what I CAN give you is some advice.”
“That would be an extraordinary help towards me, thank you.”
“My pleasure. Now, let’s have a seat and chat, shall we? I’ve been aching to sit down for ages now. Ha ha.” The Seer winked at Illusen and gave a shy smile. Illusen just laughed at this comment. Then the Seer raised her hand and quoted some Elfish Tongue that Illusen couldn’t make out and all of a sudden two chairs and a table popped up from the ground. The two sat down and Illusen was going to ask a question but the Seer silenced her.
“Now, Illusen, I do believe since I am the eldest that I am first allowed to speak, yes?” Illusen nodded her head in agreement.
“Good. As I was saying, I overheard you wondering where the town of Mazarin is located. Well, for starters, Mazarin is one of the oldest still-living Celtic villages known to us Seers and towards the world. Many archers come from there, as well as fellow Seers and Daemon Healers. Now, you do know what a Daemon Healer is, correct?”
“No, Seer. I do not. Enlighten me.”
“Watch your tone, girl, or I won’t help you at all.” Illusen suddenly felt ashamed for her sarcastic comment and agreed never to say something towards that effect again.
“All right, then. As I was saying, Daemon Healers are young witches and wizards that can control any animal they posses and any animal in the wild that is characterized as a daemon. A daemon is a specific mammal or amphibian that can think and act on his/her own without having needing help. Daemon Healers may also turn into that animal by sheer will power.”
“Wow! Exciting! Turning into animals with just a flick of hand! Remarkable!” Illusen was caught off guard when the Seer slapped her across the face. The Seer’s tone of voice was now angry, shrill, and dark.
“NO. THAT IS NONSENSE. WHO TOLD YOU THAT RUBBISH?”
“I…I…my mum….,”Illusen gulped in saliva and continued, “was talking with my father about this girl named Alomora that could just flick her hand in a sharp motion and turn into any animal she chooses. I then believed that everyone could do that whom was associated with animals.”
“Well, Illusen, you thought wrong. Daemon Healers use a special mind controlling ability and not to mention very complicated Elemental Spells. They aren’t born perfect, you know.”
“I never said they weren’t per….”
“Enough. Listen now, and listen well. See my hand?” The Seer pointed her hand eastward bound. Illusen nodded.
“This is the direction you need to go in order to reach Mazarin. Before you get there, though, you need to learn Daemon tongue, or else you will not make it past the gate. Once you get there, I will send a old friend of mine to come get you. His name is Orzo. When you find him, follow his directions. Am I clear?” Illusen took all of this into her head and contemplated it. She nodded.
“Clear.”
“Good. Now, if you will excuse me, I must be off. I have a meeting to attend.” As the Seer was about to walk off, Illusen shouted, “Wait!”
“What is it, child?”
“Why are one of your eyes purple and glassy?”
“Ah. I figured you were going to ask that question. I have a very rare ability, Illusen. I am equipped with the All-Seeing Eye. It may look into the past, present, and future, but it cannot change time.”
“Oh. When will I ever see you again, Seer?”
“Sometime or another. Probably not until you reach Bender’s Valley, which is very far away from here and Mazarin. But, until then, goodbye, and good luck!” The Seer then quoted a spell, and disappeared into thin air.
“But…. why would I need to go to Bender’s Valley?” As soon as the words left her mouth, the old Seer was gone.
“Great. Just great. I got one question answered. One million more to go.” she murmured. With little confidence and a wondering mind, she picked up her pack and started walking down the eastern road towards Mazarin.
Chapter 3: Confusing Questions and a Talking Dragon
Days flew by like a candle in the wind, and before she knew it, Illusen was lost deep inside a forest. She was scared she would be killed and horrified of what could possibly live in the forest. There was no more food in her pack, and she was starving; willing to eat anything dead, alive, or disgusting. Her head was pounding with questions, and she couldn’t take it. She tripped on a rock and fell into a hole. A pretty large one at that. Then, her eyesight went black.
*This is all I have for now...please any ideas just give them! Thanks!*
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