Chapter One

The rain was a steady drizzle that would soak to the bone and permanently chill if one was out in it long enough. The gray skies made the granite building all the more bleak; out-ling figures huddled in cloaks, heads down and bodies bent, trying to protect themselves against the biting wind. They hurried along to their destinations, hoping to get inside before the weather got worse.

Rouma Lakey stepped out of his house and quickly wrapped his cloak about him and made his way into the street. He would have been in school if not for the holiday, Malra Day, which was celebrated the world over in different times of the year. Malra Day is when the gods created the world.

He looked up briefly and spotted the house he was looking for. He dashed across the street and took the stairs two at a time. When he reached the front door, he banged the handle loudly. He heard it echo in the house. A moment later the door opened and a sharp, lean, handsome face peered out. The wise blue eyes found Rouma's own green ones and smiled in delight.

"Well, hello again, boy," the man said.

"Hello, Wise One," Rouma replied and smiled.

"Come in, boy," Wise One beckoned. "No sense in standing out in the weather." He opened the door further and Rouma gladly stepped through. He took off his cloak and hung it on a peg by the door. He followed his host into a large room where a fire burned cheerfully on the hearth.

"Have a seat, Rouma," Wise One offered and took one himself.

Rouma did and put his hands out to the fire.

"What brings you here?" Wise One asked once they were comfortable.

"I want to learn some magic," Rouma said hopefully.

Wise One sat forward and regarded Rouma. "What type of magic did you have mind?"

"There's more than one?"

Wise One laughed. "Of course, dear boy, of course! Each Species of Humankind has magic."

"Which one is strongest?" Rouma asked eagerly.

"Each magic is different in every Species," Wise One said softly. "Every member of every Species thinks differently than the other. Magic works the way the user wishes it."

"What do you mean?"

"Okay, let's use an example," Wise One said. "An Elf can't use Fairy magic and a Fairy can't use Elf magic. Each Species sees the world in a different way. The way the Species sees the world is how they wield their magic. Even though the individual thinks different from another, each Species has a general thought pattern or way of thinking. The way the Species thinks is how their society and history shapes it. Because each Species thinks and acts in a different way, that eliminates a Species to use another's magic."

"But what about the Disciples?" Rouma asked. "They can use the magic of every Species. Why is that?"

"In the days before the Intelligent Species Wars, the Disciples stepped out of their own Species and formed their own. They were taught by the gods and learned how to think like the gods they became Disciples of. Without society to influence them, they never developed the general Species thought pattern. With that stumbling block out of the way, they could use all magic."

"What are the Intelligent Species Wars?" Rouma asked. "We never learn about those in school."

"I suppose you wouldn't," Wise One agreed.

"Why is that?"

"Because it is an embarrassment to the Species of People."

"Why?"

"Because they caused it."

"What are you saying?"

"In the days when Venera was not united, the forbidden gods got a hold of King Cal and Queen Aphriva Hala of the city-state Ven Hala. They pushed thoughts of domination and imperialism into their heads. The rulers proclaimed themselves emperor and empress of all Venera and had an army to back them up. They marched on the other city-states around them and in a year the kings and queens had been reduced to dukes and duchesses and received everything that comes with being a citizen of the empire."

"Was Qua built yet?" Rouma interrupted.

"No. No cities but those of the empire stood," Wise One explained. "In another year, the god Balka gave Emperor Cal the divine weapon called the Sword of Balka with the Quartz Crystal embedded in the hilt. The goddess Skyla also gave Empress Aphriva the Dars Scepter complete with the Skyla Jewels as gifts for uniting Venera."

"This is just what the forbidden gods wanted. There was no way the puny magics of the Species of Humankind could be used to defend the Species against divine power. The forbidden gods once again whispered domination in the rulers' minds, this time adding destruction of the other Species of Humankind. They told them the Species of People were only intended in the beginning and the others were mistakes."

"The biggest shock is that the rulers believed these lies! They took their divine weapons and made war. Now war was something only the Venerans knew about and they did it well. In time the other Species had to go into hiding to survive. When Balka and Skyla found out what had happened they were enraged. They were smart enough to probe the rulers' minds and found that the forbidden gods were behind it all. The two deities immediately locked the forbidden gods in the spirit realm of Hell they had created. They then took back their gifts and scattered them across Malra. They placed heavy divine enchantments on them and to this day, no mortal knows where they are; save the Disciples."

"But what of the magic?" Rouma demanded. "Did the Species of Humankind create it?"

Wise One laughed heartily. "Good heavens no, boy! The magic was always there, Humans just stumbled upon it and decided to use it. All of Humankind thought was primitive before the Intelligent Species Wars, but after that each Species thought the other an enemy who was out to kill them. They all had one common goal, however; to stop the Species of People. They began an intense study of the magic they found around them, learned how to use, and put it to use. The advanced it to an extremely high and dangerous level, took it out on the other Species, especially the Species of People. They took gross delight in that kind of sick humor. The Species of People finally got sick of it and began their own studies."

"They brought their own magic up to speed with the other Species very quickly and began using it on them. The fighting became so intense that the Disciples had to put a stop to it before a second Intelligent Species War started when the dust from the first had not cleared. The Disciples erased most of the knowledge of that dangerous magic and that is how we ended up where we are today."

"Wow, I never knew that. Do they teach that in any school?" Rouma asked.

"Yes, in Venera," Wise One answered. "It's important there."

Rouma stood up. "Now will you teach me some magic?"

"No," Wise One replied. "Tomorrow, perhaps." He looked out the window at the darkening sky. "You better get yourself home now. Your mother will be worried."

Rouma nodded glumly and put on his cloak once he had reached the door. On the way home he thought about what Wise One had told him. It made him feel ashamed to be a member of the Species of People after what they did to the other Species. Then a horrifying thought struck him that made him stop dead in his tracks. If the forbidden gods had had a hold on the Species of People before, could they do it again?

The following day Rouma was once again in the home of Wise One, eager to learn magic. When Wise One and Rouma were comfortable, Rouma voiced his worries.

"Not possible, Rouma," Wise One assured him. "Balka and Skyla called upon the powers they used for creation to imprison the forbidden gods. Not even the Big Four couldn't even undo that."

"The Big Four?" Rouma asked, puzzled.

"The parents of the major gods and goddesses."

"Oh," Rouma nodded. "Why couldn't they undo it?"

Wise One chuckled softly. "Just like I told you yesterday. All of magic has to do thought, even that of the gods. No god or goddess can ever think like another. Whether divine or mortal, magic is thought."

"Who worships the Big Four?"

"The inhabitants of the island kingdom of Syriab."

"All right," Rouma said. "Some me some real magic."

Wise One stood up and his hands flew from his robes. In his palms were two balls of bright blood red fire. Wise One motioned for Rouma to touch it and he did. He gasped when he found the fire to be not hot or cold, but lukewarm and hard as titanium. Rouma withdrew his hand and Wise One threw back his own hands and let the red fire fly at the wall. A burst of flame and then a hole in the wall. Rouma looked closer and saw no ash on the ground and that the edges of the wall weren't severed.

"How did you do that?" Rouma exclaimed.

Wise One grinned. "A simple trick, really. Enough though it is one of the highest forms of Species of People magic. Few know it, but I have devoted my life to the study of magic." He walked over to Rouma and stood in front of him. "Let's see if you have any talent." He waved his hand across Rouma's forehead. "Yes, yes. You certainly have the gift. It just has to be opened."

"How do I go about doing that?"

"By commanding it so."

"Commanding it?" Rouma asked, disbelieve in his voice.

"It it but a part of you," Wise One said. "Command it like any other." "How?"

"Tell it to open."

"What do I say."

"Open. Be strong and firm about it, though."

"I'll try."

"The key is to concentrate very thoroughly. Block out everything around you and when you feel you are in total control, tell it to open."

Rouma nodded. He did as told and felt his will build in him. He came upon a wall. "There's a block!"

"Break it down."

"How?"

"Command it."

Rouma focused all his thoughts on the wall. He felt a gathering of power in his forehead. He saw the wall. Open! His mental voice yelled. Nothing happened. He commanded it again and this time pushed with all his will and might. The wall collapsed and a green light pulsed in his mind's eye. He saw it for a second and then it changed into a million lights and scattered all over in a heartbeat. Rouma opened his eyes.

"What did you see?" Wise One asked.

"The wall crumbled and I saw a green light." Rouma shook his head.

"Green, eh?"

"Yes."

"Then that is your color."

"Color?"

"All your magic will be green."

"Oh," Rouma said. "I understand. Now can I try the magic?"

"No," Wise One replied. "You're tired. Too much use of your gift in one day will overwork you and could leave you weak."

Rouma stood up. He was more than tired, he was exhausted. He took his leave of Wise One's house and that night had freighting dreams about gruesome figures in black cloaks who's faces he couldn't quite see clearly.

For the remaining week, Rouma faithfully followed all Wise One told him and what he taught him, though he thought it terribly slow and useless. By the sixth day, Wise One let Rouma call upon the green fire. First time he tried it, he missed the target by two walls. Wise One simply told him to do it again. At the end of the day, Wise One's house was in shambles but Rouma could strike anything asked of him. When he was leaving, he saw Wise One shoot a beam of blue light at the house and it was good as new.

On his way home, Rouma took a shortcut through an alley. His magic warned him that he was being followed. He had no idea who or what it was, and couldn't use his magic to help him because he didn't know how. He picked up the pace and shot a glance backward, the follower had done the same. Rouma's frustration got the better of him and he stopped and turned around.

"All right!" He yelled. "Show yourself!"

The creature stepped forward and removed its hood. Rouma gasp in terror at it. The face was flat, ugly, with burning yellow eyes, no ears, and a lipless mouth that revealed dagger sharp teeth with a curved hook on each end. Instead of hair on its head, it had rows of spikes.

Rouma thought about running, but quickly dismissed the idea. If this thing were to catch him, and it probably would, he would not walk away.

The creature threw off the cloak to reveal a hairless body with smooth skin that flashed silver when it moved. Great leathery wings flared off the back, powerful legs with claws sharper than razors rounded off the toes, and where fingernails should have been where needles connected to slim fingers and hands, which in turn connected to large arms. Rouma noticed something on its chest and squinted his eyes to make it out. The in sigma of a Human body being consumed by flames. He felt the bile rise in his throat and forced it down.

"Who are you?" He asked, his voice quavering.

"A Seeker," it replied in a voice that sounded like bones grinding and fire cracking.

Rouma stepped back. "Who do you seek?"

"You, Rouma Lakey," the Seeker said. "King Yar wants you dead."

"The king of the forbidden gods?"

"They are not forbidden!" The Seeker shrieked. "Enough talk! Time to die." One hand shot out and a red fire beam flew from it.

Rouma's own magic had forewarned him of the attack and he threw out a beam of green fire. The two attacks met and neutralized each other. The Seeker's face showed surprise. Rouma took advantage of this and shot out the green fire. It struck the Seeker head on and knocked it to the ground. Rouma now had the offense and heeded it. He began pelting the Seeker with the green fire. The Seeker tried to escape but couldn't. If fell back on its last defense. It opened its mouth to shoot out poison and Rouma threw a ball of green fire into the hole.

The Seeker screamed in horror and started having convolutions. It began to glow a faint green color and was engulfed in an intense green light. The light was so bright that Rouma had to put his hand over his eyes and a moment later it was dark again. Rouma looked over where the Seeker had been and stared in amazement. There was nothing left of its passing, not even a black mark on the cobblestone.

Rouma spun around for a second to head home and then thought better of it. He turned around again and sprinted down the alley back the way he had come. He figured Wise One had some very needed answers to this mystery and he wanted them badly.

Once at Wise One's house, Rouma didn't even bother knocking, he just barged in and Wise One stood up, surprised to see him. "What is the matter, Rouma?" He asked, his forehead creasing in concern.

"Something terrible just happened to me," Rouma said, still trying to catch his breath.

"First thing to do is calm down," Wise One reached over and grabbed Rouma's arm. "Take a deep breath and them explain it to me."

When Rouma was calm, he told Wise One all that had happened. "I had this dream too," he said when he was finished.

"Oh?"

"When I opened the wall," Rouma rushed, "I saw figures in black cloaks who's faces I never could quite see clearly. I felt a terrible evil coming off of them. They frightened me. Are they Seekers?"

"Either that or demons," Wise One spat.

Rouma shuddered in spite of himself. Demons were even worse than Seekers.

"You really should of told me this sooner," Wise One chided.

"Then you would never of taught me magic!" Rouma whined.

""Perhaps, perhaps not." Wise One said thoughtfully. "No, I probably would have. It was the green fire that saved your life."

"What do we do now?"

"We leave."

"Leave?"

"Yes, the Seekers know you're here. The best thing to do is leave."

"I don't understand."

"If we stay, they will surely hunt you down. No matter where in Steller we are, the Seekers will find us."

"So where do we go?"

"Ven Hala."

"Ven Hala?" Rouma asked. "As in the imperial capital of the Veneran Empire?"

"That's the only one I know of."

"Why would we go there?"

"To consult with Her Imperial Highness, Princess Vashti the Sorceress, Discipless of Skyla."

"Why not just go to Corsgo?"

"Because unless you are invited by a resident of Corsgo, you can't get near it."

"Why not?"

"It is filled with every magical enchantment of every Species, including the Disciples and the gods."

"What for?"

"To keep out unwanted Humans and the followers of Yar; who would destroy all the knowledge in the Corsgo Library."

"Okay," Rouma said. "Let's go."

"All right," Wise One proclaimed. "Then we will go to the palace."

"The palace? What for?"

"So we can get the legal international documents needed to travel from one nation to another."

"Why would those be at the palace?"

"That is where all the government officials are."

"Oh," Rouma said. "I'm ready."

Wise One nodded and got his own cloak from the rack at the door and they headed out in the night. It was raining again, it never stopped raining in the fall. As they made their way to the palace, they didn't say much to one another. They were both much to caught up in their own thoughts.

Then Wise One stopped and they were standing in front of the palace gates. Two guards stood to either side, and one stepped forward.

"Yes?" he asked.

"We need to see the king," Wise One said.

"Purpose?"

"International passports."

"Right this way, please."

He led them through the gates and onto the walk that led to the doors of the palace. Rouma didn't glance around much, he'd been there many times. His parents being the Veneran ambassadors to the Stellernese king. He did look up once to see lights shining in almost all the windows. They made their way up the steps and passed through the double doors and were in a long corridor. Their escort took them to the throne room and informed the guards on duty of their purpose. They were given immediate audience with the king.

The throne room had four enormous fire places, all burning brightly. The walls were draped in deep purple tapestries trimmed in gold. The king sat in his large oak throne, elk fur covering the seat, risen high on a dais with a large tankard in his hand.

Wise One made his way across the purple carpet and bowed in front of the dais. "Your Majesty," he said.

Rouma criticized to the king also.

King Oto bowed to Wise One and nodded to Rouma. "What brings you Wise One?"

"I wish to discuss it in private with you, your Majesty," Wise One said, keen eyes surveying the room.

King Oto nodded. "Please leave us," he told his court and servants. There were grunts and a few rude remarks. Plenty of dirty looks were thrown in their direction. After a few minutes the throne room was quiet, save the crackling of the fires.

"Now," said the king. "What brings you here?"

"Our passports."

King Oto jumped up from his seat. "The time has come?"

"I believe so, yes," Wise One answered.

The king pulled on a rope and a bell chimed. A servant slid through the door and King Oto gave the order to get passports. Wise One and King Oto began talking about this great fortune. Rouma had no idea what they were speaking of but tried to follow anyway. He became very lost. The servant came back with the documents and Wise One and Rouma said their goodbyes.

The way back to Rouma's house was silent and when Wise One spoke, there was a no non-sense tone to his voice. "Pack your bags and be ready to leave at first light. We will be traveling by sea."
"What do I say to my parents?" Rouma asked.

"Tell them you must go to Venera with me," Wise One said. "They will understand."

"Okay," Rouma replied. "I will see to it."

Wise One put his hand on Rouma's forehead and a blue light flared. "Now you'll have protection from the Seekers, for the night at least."

Rouma didn't understand but nodded anyway. He gave Wise One a brief squeeze on the arm and then went inside. He was already anxious to be off on this great adventure.

Chapter Two

Her Imperial Highness, Princess Aphriva, crown jewel of the Bana family and heir to the Veneran throne, watched in amusement as Her Imperial Highness, Princess Vashti the Sorceress, Discipless of Skyla, argued a concept of money with Emperor Cal Bana, Aphriva's father. What Aphriva found most amusing about Vashti was no matter how many titles she had and no matter how much magical power, she'd give it all up just to have a good argument, like she was doing now.

"Cal, you cannot raise the value of the Imperial Gold Coin," Vashti said through clenched teeth. "Even the richest people in Venera barely have any!"

"Vashti," Emperor Cal Bana stated in a exasperated tone. "I can raise the value of money if I wish!"

"No you cannot!" Vashti flared. "The Council of Advisors and the House of Courts would have you thrown out of office so fast it would make your head swim!"

Emperor Cal Bana smiled in spite of himself. Trust Vashti to bring some kind of humorous moment into a fight. "Are you completely sure about that?"

She looked at him as if he were the dumbest person on Malra. "Of course I am! I am the daughter of the first emperor and empress!"

"Well, I have to be getting back matters of state now," he announced gracefully. "Excuse me."

"You will not get out of this so easily, Cal!" Vashti threatened to his retreating back.

"Please give it a rest, Vashti," Aphriva pleaded. "He will be back some other time."

"You bet he will," Vashti agreed darkly. "And when he does, he will never hear the end of it!"

"I believe you, Vashti," Aphriva said. She took Vashti's arm and led her down the marble hall. "Now will you teach me some more magic?"

"What else would you like to learn?" Vashti asked airily.

Aphriva dismissed Vashti's careless tone. She knew the sorceress loved performing her magic. "Some of the more higher ones, like something to defend myself against a magical attack."

Vashti raised a perfectly curved eyebrow. "Oh really?"

"Yes," Aphriva nodded.

"Follow me."

Aphriva trailed behind Vashti. She absolutely loved learning magic. It was her favorite pass time, besides dancing. She had her studies of course, but they bored her. She was an active girl, and she needed activity in her life and going on around her to feel complete. Vashti took her out of the Imperial Palace and into the Imperial Gardens of Life.

"Now you say you want to learn how to defend yourself," Vashti said thoughtfully. She snapped her fingers. "I have it! The protection shell!"

Aphriva stared at her blankly. "The what?"

"The protection shell," Vashti repeated. "It is a shield you put around yourself or someone else to protect from harm."

"Is it really strong?"

"Yes, it requires a lot of strength to do it."

"I am ready to learn," Aphriva said eagerly.

"That I know from being around you," Vashti agreed. "The first step is to draw in your energy and concentrate on being able to protect some one."

"Okay," Aphriva said and did as told. "I am ready. What do I with it now?"

"Do you see that rose bush over there?" Vashti asked and pointed.

"Yes," Aphriva replied.

"Place the protection shell on it," Vashti ordered.

Aphriva's mind reached out and tenderly tucked the rose bush with her energy. She raised her hand a soft beam of purple light came out and surrounded the rose bush in a faint purple aura. "I did it! I did it!" Aphriva yelled and jumped up and down.

"You most certainly did," Vashti said and gave her a dazzling smile. "Now it is time to move on to more complex things."

Aphriva nodded and eagerly awaited for her next assignment.

By the end of the day, Aphriva felt that a nice, warm bath and an evening of breaking hearts and dancing was definitely in order. She made her way from the Imperial Gardens of Life into the Imperial Palace and up the stairs into the enormous spa room. Fresh, hot water was waiting and bottles full of dried scents that women add to their baths to make them smell good lined the sides of the tub. Aphriva stripped off her clothes and stuck her toe in the water. It was just right.

She lowered herself into the spa and began an immediate smelling of the bottled fragrances. The ones she found pleasing she sprinkled in the water, the others she pushed away. She hummed softly to herself as she cleansed her skin with the soft smelling lilac soap and washed her hair with honeysuckle scented shampoo and conditioner. Once she was finished she dried herself and rubbed light smelling jasmine oil on her body.

She put on a pink silk robe and slipped out of the spa room and down the hall to her bedroom. Once inside she went to her trunk and pulled out a white skirt trimmed in gold on the hem and the waist. Gold designs went up and down the outside of the legs. It fell gracefully to the beginning of the feet and was loose. The top was white and not connected. It covered the breasts only, breaking away from the center on the chest in soft folds. Thin gold straps went up and over the shoulder to connect to the back. A white sash with gold designs in the center started at the right shoulder and went across the right breast to where it fell to cover the naval and ended at the knees.

She put these on and left her sleek, straight black hair down and put it over her shoulders and down her back. She choose a long gold chain that held a crystal on the end and five gold bracelets on each arm. She put long, dangling diamond earrings in her ears and put gold shimmer on her eye lids and lips.

She crossed to her mirror and looked back at herself. She looked stunning, innocently stunning in the white and sophisticatedly stunning in the gold. She glanced closer and noticed something was missing. Her tiara. She went to her bureau and found it lying there. In the soft candle light the diamonds winked back at her. She placed it on her head and made her way to the door. Once in the hall she moved down to Vashti's room and knocked on the door. "Come in!" She heard Vashti's voice ring out.

She entered the room to find Vashti placing her own tiara on her head. Her tawny blond hair fell away from her face in graceful folds and danced around her shoulders. Her gown was black silk, leaving very little to the imagination. It covered everything that needed covering and not a inch more. Both princesses represented the female Veneran dress perfectly.