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Chapter 1: The Illusion of Tovaan
Midday had rapidly approached. He lay there asleep on an amethyst colored bed, his eyes calmly shut but his head throbbing; however his dreams were rudely interrupted by a large booming voice.
“Nero. Nero. Nero?! Wake up Nero!”
This was all that could be heard from inside his head. The sound was magnified ten fold and clenching his eyes tightly he covered his small ears and drifted off into his nightmarish sleep.
She was crouched on the wet floor, crying pitifully. She slowly cast her eyes up at Nero. Her tears turned to joy. Her face lit up, the only signs of lightness in Tovaan. Then a flash of white light blinded Nero making him flinch. His mother was vanished. Looking up, Nero caught sight of a small ball, a spherical one, barely the size of a small stone. It left the roof of the damaged house and disappeared into the sinister night’s sky.
Nero’s eyes watered, however it wasn’t from the rain but from his imminent tears. He crouched down onto his knees and wiped his face only to smear it with mud. His face turned to exasperation. He screamed loudly, his strong husky voice shredding through the rain. He got up slowly and brushed his wet hair from his eyes. He charged out the door and ran aimlessly. He saw more places disappear, more people, more buildings. The floor was wet with thick mud, a slip being fatal. His eye’s started welling up again but wasn’t obvious with the hard rain thumping. Then, almost immediately the world went black.
“Here, drink this,” a voice said startling Nero. Shooting up, he immediately looked behind him. His eyes squinted, struggling to see clearly until he started to make out who it was and his tense limbs relaxed. He had long grey hair that went down to his waist and wore white moon shaped glasses. His robe was a rich crimson color with purple stripes going vertically down. He stood there smiling, towering above Nero.
“I see you finally woke up after you your long sleep Nero,” he grinned as he quickly signaled Nero to drink up. Glancing up, Nero gave a weak but reassuring smile safe to be out of his hellish nightmare and in safe hands. Then he spoke.
“How long was I exactly asleep grandfather Albertus,” Nero asked as he drank heartily. He coughed violently then cringed as the rancid liquid trickled down the wrong hole.
“You should drink much slower Nero, there is no rush,” Albertus said chuckling, straightening his glasses.
Albertus was the founder of the village of Tovaan. An idolized figure. He was looked up upon by everyone in Tovaan even by few people from neighboring lands. Before he came along, Tovaan was merely an isolated grass plain with nothing but dirt. However, once great Albertus came, he and a few of his followers settled down. With their powerful Magick and craftsmanship skills, they transformed the desert plains of Tovaan to a bustling village, where families and economy prospered.
“Well, I’m not exactly sure,” Albert chuckled. “I would say around…” He thought for a moment delaying the answer. He knew perfectly well how long Nero was asleep for, but it was a matter of how Nero would take the news, but there was far more shocking news to be revealed so Albertus lowered his head and looked at Nero from the top of his silver glasses.
“2 weeks.” There was a nervous pause from Albertus and Nero. Nero’s mouth shot wide open. He tried speaking but nothing would come out, mostly because of shock and confusion.
“Tw-Two weeks?” Nero stuttered. Albertus gave a solemn nod. “Bu-But, how can that be? I mean- I mean.” Nero stopped speaking and slumped into the bed bewildered with what his grandfather had said. He tried absorbing it in. Two weeks? Nero thought. He tried recalling what had happened to him but it wasn’t clicking into place only complete darkness and the recollection of those damned dreams wish he wished to forget.
“So, let me get this right. I’ve been asleep, or rather in a ‘coma,’ for two weeks?” Nero asked bemused at what his great grandfather Albertus was telling him.
“Yes Nero,” Albert said seriously. Nero lowered his head. There was one important question that needed to be answered and hoped he didn’t need to ask.
“So how exactly did I manage to ‘sleep’ for two weeks?” Nero asked still flabbergasted.
“You mean you don’t remember what happened?” Albertus asked puzzled. Nero shook his head.
“Hmmm, I mean it would make sense with you hitting your head and that—“
“—hitting my head?” Nero stormed in cutting his grandfather off.
“If you let me finish,” Albertus said impatiently before clearing his throat for the detailed analysis of the events.
“Well, where to begin. It was two weeks ago when it started raining, just like any other day, until of course the clouds darkened, the trees turned bare and the animals whimpering for their dear lives. Everyone in the village drew concerned, me in particular. The light rain grew in force, battering buildings and earth much like a ram. Everyone was frightened, running into their homes, but to find Emperor Talkin and Queen Litith appearing on the stormy clouds gazing down on us.” Albertus paused taking a moment to catch his breath before continuing.
“I knew exactly what was going on at that time and had sense to enter my house. It was sworn that they wouldn’t come to Tovaan until every century. Everyone knew what to expect. Sphere’s being thrown, capturing them, and then being sent across the lands lost unless found by a brave warrior. Anyway, as you are already aware Nero, there are already very few people living in Tovaan as they escaped before hand, knowing the danger that lay ahead.” Taking a longer pause Albertus breathed again allowing Nero to soak up all this in, in chunks rather then the full blow. However it already became apparent that Nero was perplexed but more petrified.
“However, the remaining people weren’t going to give up so easily. The few people who knew magick tried there best. Nevertheless, Emperor Talkin and Queen Litith were too strong and threw spheres towards everyone and everything eventually capturing everything in sight. Before this however, I had the sense to bring you in. You had slipped on mud and hit the back of your head onto a loose rock, which might explain the pain you’re experiencing. I had cast magick on the house. You and I survived, but the rest were unfortunately captured.” Albert ended abruptly. Of course many more events had taken place, including houses being burnt, people being killed rather then captured, but Albert knew that Nero would be even more speechless at this.
Another pause, a pause that seemed to last a century, until someone spoke. A boy of 15 with long yellow hair that grew to his shoulders. His garments were tacky. He had forest green shirt with brown trousers. Rips on his clothes. His eyes blue. He was a boy whose village had vanished and he was one of the sole survivors. Nero spoke boldly and bravely trying to seem calm about the situation.
“So they were true.” Nero said blinking blankly.
“What was true?” Albert asked confused. Nero gave an impassive look.
“My dreams. My nightmares. They were all speaking the truth. I mean the screams, the buildings burning, the people…” He paused. His bold voice was beaten down by a feeble voice which began speaking. “…Dieing. My friends all running, but running form what. My mother,” He paused again, but this time a tear slowly trickled down his left cheek and a soft comforting hand went onto his shoulder. “My mother, she’s gone, along with the rest of Tovaan. Everything’s gone. There’s nothing I can do.” Nero stopped, almost breaking down in tears. “The screams, they still echo in my head--” Nero was stopped.
“--Shhhh, that’s enough.” Albertus said as he embraced Nero into his chest, slightly perplexed at the details Nero had given. “There is something we can do, or rather you can do,” Albertus said slowly releasing his soft grip. Nero instantly left Albert’s chest and wiped away the dirty line of tears from his cheeks.
“Yes?” Nero asked sniveling.
“Well…No, this quest is too dangerous, even for the likes of me, a great magician.” Albertus said turning his back. Nero face grew frustrated, he ran to face Albert.
“Tell me Grandfather Albert. I will do anything to get the village back,” behind his line of tears, Nero’s eyes were lined with pure determination. All the fear that was once in them, gone.
“If, you think you can complete this quest, and then I have no objections,” Albert gave a soft grin to Nero. “To tell the truth, I once took upon this wretched quest only to have my arms broken and legs ripped to shreds. But I shall continue. It was said that after the village of Tovaan was captured, a brave and ruthless hero from a neighboring village would take up the journey to enter the damned Unknown caves and beyond. In there would the spheres that held the captured villagers and buildings. But till this day only three people have ever lived to tell the tale. Me being one of them.” Albert stopped then looked at Nero’s curious face. “Nero, do you still take this mighty quest?”
Nero paused. He thought for a moment. His mother, Scott and his friends, the townsfolk, the village itself.
“If I have to sacrifice my life to bring back Tovaan, I’ll gladly do it,” Nero said proudly although beneath this façade, he spoke true fear.
“That’s my boy,” Albertus said patting Nero’s back. Nero grinned, but behind that grin, fear started to rise. His determination countered it but he couldn’t stop remembering what grandfather Albertus had said. ‘Till this day, only three people have ever lived to tell the tale.’
“Will there be anything I will need for this quest Grandfather Albert?” Nero asked.
“Yes, I had this prepared while you were asleep, I knew you would take this quest up,” Albert winked and threw an old rucksack to Nero. Nero gave a weak grin and caught the sack. It was surprisingly light, however Nero put his arms through the straps and gave Albertus one last hug.
“I know you will do it Nero, I have every faith in you,” Albertus said as Nero slowly sauntered to the door. He gave one last glance back before opening the door into the quiet plains of Tovaan. Nero’s eyes widened. The door behind him slammed shut.
Nero walked a couple of steps, still stunned over the fact that the entire village had gone. Only grass and dirt could be seen flying around from the strong gales. In the horizon the sacred mountains could be seen. The sky was a beautiful baby blue with no clouds in sight and the sun beamed down onto Nero. The place looked peaceful, too peaceful.
Casting his mind back on the village, Nero could see no signs of there being a village here before. Nero tried shaking this thought off thinking he was still in his dreaded nightmare. But this was no illusion. This was reality.
