Haze of Dusk (A trilogy) Read online

  There’s a last region that stays north of the castle. They’re called the warriors. They're a combination of races that fight with weapons but have no magic what so ever. There are thousands of them, mainly masculine. Srogeri says they are behind the castle, but the east dormitory people don’t encounter them until the training hours. The warriors' training includes high physical training for twelve hours. They are the first to lose their lives in the war. “Are we almost there? I’m so excited,” I’m frenzied over entering Doomsvell. Srogeri who relaxes groans,

  “I’m starting to believe you chose to do this mainly for yourself and not Jorsay.” I purse my lips. He knows me well. “Oh, I forgot to ask you, did you bring me anything from that ten day-vacation of yours?” When I don’t want to answer, I just change the subject. It never works with Morgan, but surely it always works with Srogeri. “Vacation…it was not vacation. I was trying to get you into a learning society. I was thinking of bringing you a coconut. There is a tree in Asteli Mount, it is strange…seems to be put there by magic, for our land has no palm trees…especially coconut trees, that fruit is extinct.” My heart bounces. No, that’s impossible, it can’t be… nature’s magic law would’ve diminished that.

  “Tree…coco…ha-ha-ha…that’s mad.” I say foolishly and not very believable.

  “I know. It is very odd. There is truly no explanation. The elves think it might be a sign from their god. A sign to the end of all this war, if so…I truly hope so.” I bite my lips. It’s my tree…but why is it still there? Holy crap, could it be Khysso is so powerful he can break nature’s magic law. If so…he has to be the most powerful sorcerer in the universe. I have to tell him, I have to ask… just a little longer.

  “We are here.” Srogeri words startle me. He steps outside. I’m still shaken by the tale of the coconut-tree. I hop down gazing around. We are in the end of a path. There’s nothing but water ahead of us. The narrow road has millions of dehydrated trees on the sides. A fuming wind prickles my skin, rubbing its heat on me.

  “Where’s the portal?” I ask seeing the water that encircles us, water created or maintain by the elves. I really don’t know the secrets of the castles, nobody does, not even Srogeri. He looks at me, and pushes a nod, symbolizing it is time. I take a red small container and discreetly drink it. I gag, for it tastes like putrid milk, with a hint of lemon acid. He cautiously puts a foot on the water, yet his foot does not sink in. He places both his feet now, and stands holding his staff. I walk towards him and set my feet beside his. “You might feel strange, but it’s the potion. Do not show pain.” I nod. The water around us lifts, twirling beneath our eyes. Unexpectedly, my body yanks down. I brusquely become woozy, unwell, a piercing soreness flows in my veins—hot, almost deadly. I hold the irritation. I’m not going to show weakness. I’m suffocating. I think I’m dying. I try to consume air, but the agonizing pain does not allow a gulp. Then, little by little and restfully the pain fades, and the fire within my vein warms up. My heart still races. I release a breath. I’m glad to be alive.

  “Yes…it worked…” I murmur looking at Jorsay’s hands.

  “Shhh, walls have ears here.” I hope he doesn’t mean that literally. But I understand his say. I partly smile, and gape all ways. We’re on the other side of the ocean, in the grounds of Doomsvell—we aren’t near the castle yet. There’s a long road similar to the one we left behind. But this road is different. It has a line of live trees on each side of the pathway. The trees sprinkle yellow puff flowers. The absolute wind rushes over us. The green pure aroma takes me to a place I’ve never been before. Walking the trail to the castle, I whirl around the area, touching trees— smelling the air like an overexcited little girl. Although Srogeri scolds me for my overreaction and female sensitivity, I continue my girly behaviors.

  Within a short time we come across the main entry of the castle. Everything Srogeri told me about the place is indeed true. I stare taken aback by the vast castle. Slowly, we walk to the entrance, instantly fear rushes through my spine. I don’t know why; maybe because for the first time I’m heading into a different direction, maybe because for the first time ever I’m not performing life securely.

  “Vin Srogeri!” a man shouts stridently. We look ahead of us. A six foot five man walks towards us. He’s overflowing with hair on his head and face, seeming to be from the yeti origin, but in a human form. He wears a long black coat that almost covers his brown wool trousers, and black tunic. Srogeri laughs to see the man,

  “Grasseo Ronneto, well I’ll be damn. It has been a long time.” Srogeri says with a grin. It’s nice to see that expression of his part. “When I heard Ye were coming I said…it cannot be. Vin said ne’verr to step foot he’arr again. And how many times have ye rejected our’r invitation of becoming an influence he’arr. Thousands may I say. Now look at ye. Finally gave on to our’r favor’r. Welcome, my old friend.” Ronneto speaks in an unusual accent that is hard to understand. He pronounces the R with an extension. They come close, and welcome one another with a fast-tap hug. Soon, they enter a conversation about our journey. I watch them relate. It’s nice at first, but as the talking continues I fall bored and curious. Finally, Srogeri introduces me and explains who Ronneto is. He’s no other but Srogeri’s partner when in his years of the war. Like him, a rare survivor. He’s also the arithmetical focus, and the staff statistic lecturer. He educates magicians to understand the staff they hold upon. The power a staff is capable of holding can be splendid if kept for long, so I heard.

  Srogeri and Ronneto walk ahead of me. They whisper among each other, speaking nonsense for all I know. I tried to overlook their secrecy and relax. I gaze around an inactive area that its view whirls my sentiments. Doomsvell obviously is admired by the greenness of nature. Is it fair they have what every outsider desires? But reversing my thinking—normally all the people of Doomsvell pass on to the other life. It’s the least the leaders could do for them—to live life in such a wonderful place, for such a short time.

  We go up solid stairs that eventually take us to the castle’s entry. At last we enter the war castle, straight to the main hall, a place that steals my breath away with its excessive golden shades and oak polished floor. The walls are overflowing with creative arts that dominate the pigments. The ceiling carries many large candles circular shaped chandeliers. The more I stare at the art on the walls, the more I grasp the colors twirl in a spherical motion, and the walls shift in an unbalance movement.

  “Don’t look too much at the colour’rs and walls young boy. Ye might just get giddy." Ronneto pauses his discussion to warn me. I fairly smile, trying to show some manliness. I ignore his warning and gawk at the art, the twirling makes me queasy. Maybe I should obey him. I straighten my head to their direction, and continue following them.

  We come in a greater room, with two pairs of curl stairs on the sides— one to the left and the other to the right. Looking directly to the center of the room, there is a red arch door. “Remember’r, east is men, west is girls… so don’t ye try going in the girl’s dormitory. Albeit, the doors won’t allow you to go in even if ye try,” he taunts walking to the isolated red door. I purse my lips. If he only knew I am a girl. Ronneto opens the red door for us to go in. I grimace, there’s a brick wall.

  “Don’t ye be afraid, go in,” I take a deep breath and carefully insert a hand. A force pulls me in, taking me to another room.

  I appear in a golden-brown room with a ceiling that makes the sorcerers on the painting come to life. They fight noiselessly. Then abruptly it vanishes— I change my direction before I become sick. There are over a hundred hectic people in the room. Most of them are young; thirteen to their twenties. The people talk among each other. They sound irritated and exasperated by something.

  “This is the order room. Here ye’ll get your bedroom number and ye will register’r as what ye is… a work schedule will be given to ye. For two months, ye will follow that schedule. Ye understands?” I nod. Ronneto gazes to the center of the room.
There’s a round close, oak-counter that’s surrounded by impatient people.

  “Again, she leaves people waiting…” he says in a sigh heading towards the counter. “Reggia!” he growls slamming the counter with a hand. The candle chandelier center on the top begins shaking. A bright light turns on illuminating our sight. A beautiful woman with white wavy hair comes from that light, tainting our vista with feathers. By her long downward ears, I can tell her race is rare, probably an Aves shape shifter. She wears a brilliant white hood robe that goes well with her spotless pale face.

  “I’m here. I'm here…I was taking a short break sire,” her voice is squeaky, rather annoying. Ronneto seems to be a man respected and admired. He murmurs something that makes her blush. He then sights my way, gesturing for me to go to him. “Go, he’s going to help you.” Srogeri whispers. I rapidly shake my head.

  “There are others waiting first.” I concede. Srogeri narrows his eyes and crosses his arms on his chest. That’s enough to send me flying to Ronneto. As I stand near Ronneto, I hear angry rumbling of the people.

  “Why he gets to be first…”

  “Shhh… he is with Ronneto,” it’s all I hear. Seeing the admiration and importance towards the man, I ignore what others have to say.

  “His last name is Zayras of Duolic, first-name Jorsay,” he tells her. The stuck-up woman opens a book that appears to be too heavy to carry—a million page book I’ll say. The pages swiftly flip, the speed decreases stopping on its destination. She rests a hand on her chin.

  “Jorsay Zayras, age fifteen… harpoon…”

  “That is incor’rect, he will be with the olpes…” my eyes widen. In that short time they talked, could it be Srogeri told him the truth about me. Were they that allied… does Srogeri have such powerful connection? If so, why was he working in such a poor town like Duolic? “But it says here he is!” she burbles.

  “He WILL be with the olpes. Give him a vacant room with good warriors. People who can train him well and have been here for more than two years, ye comprehend?”

  “But sire, the leaders won’t like this…and if I do change it, I have to rewrite the schedule, and it will take a lot of my time. I am quite hungry, I haven’t eaten—”

  “Enough!” he breaks in. “Simply do it,” he commands in a deep severe voice that intimidates me. She whines like a small child. She places her hand over the book. The words that are in the page with my information erases, gradually, in a beautiful script, new writing appears. A beige sheet appears in her hand. The sheet has words in a side and a map on the other. She hands it to me, disliking me for making her work. Before I could thank her, she screams, “next!” Ronneto and I walk back to the red door. I peek at my schedule quite thrilled. I can’t believe it, I’m out of Duolic. My smirk quickly turns into a frown, instead of nine hours of daily work I have twelve hours, but blown away I am when I see my schedule contains school work.

  Jorsay Zayras age 15: Room 0322

  Daybreak Classes, Total: 6 hours

  Arithmetical focus: time—one hourglass-room 033

  Language: time— one hourglass-room 021

  Adversary communication: time— one hourglass- room 021

  Spell Containing: time—one hourglass- room 033

  Beginner Potion: time—one hourglass- room 023

  Magic Statistic Intro: time— one hourglass- room 014

  Midday Physical Training: 6

  Battle field statistic: time two hourglass

  Self defense training: time two hourglass

  Enemy identification: time two hourglass

  “Ah, Wizard Ronneto…why…why do I have twelve hours of classes? And why do I have arithmetical focus…I took…that is school work, not war work.” I bite my tongue for almost spilling words Judyala would say. He takes the schedule from my hand and analyzes it. He frowns. “By regulation a child seventeen or younger still has to be schooled. Learning is forever’r young man, even if there is war’r…” he hands me the sheet and discreetly smirks. “But I bet ye already need no learning…” he says sneakily. I push my body away from him, his words startle me. Does he know? Did Srogeri tell him something? We reach Srogeri, who partly smiles.

  “Well, I have to head back. Soon is the instructor meeting.” Ronneto says to Srogeri. His eyes shift to me. “Young one, do not worry so much. Follow the map carefully. If ye ever get lost in this castle, simply find the red door. It will always bring ye back to the order room.” I smile at him and partially nod. I can tell he sometimes intends to talk clearer. “I will meet you in the assembly room in a tad,” Srogeri says, Ronneto nods and leaves us. I sneakily look at Srogeri. “Does he know?” I question in a whisper. Srogeri ignores my question and snatches the schedule from my hands. “Oh my, you’re going to take some quite interesting classes,” he mocks me.

  I scowl.

  “Why didn’t you tell me I was going back to school?” I hiss. He quickly looks at his surrounding and slowly leans forward. “You wanted this…well now you have it. Do not complain,” he scolds. I cross my hands on my chest. It infuriates me that I’m going to repeat classes I completed years ago—I dislike school work. I was in the last grade of my third year. Learning about healing was my only priority, and it was for three hourglasses for four days a week.

  Srogeri leaves me to guide myself by the map, in which the task is easy for the map indicates me where to go. Wherever I stand there’s a blue dot that represents me. If I go the wrong way large words emerge on red ink,

  “WRONG WAY.” Making the path completely obvious, then a red twine appears in the map, showing the correct path. “East…stairs…” I mumble fixedly looking at the map. I follow the map not seeing anything else. My inattention helps me lose track of my surrounding. I stumble upon someone—our foreheads collide and our behinds hit the hard floor. “Ouch…” I whine, holding my throbbing forehead, it’s as if I hit a rock. The girl I bumped into crawls to me and oddly massages my forehead. She seems to be free from pain unlike me. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking,” she mumbles. I foolishly watch how the elf girl rubs me as if I’m a child. I jerk away from the awkward girl. I take my sheet and unsteadily manage to stand.

  The girl picks up her sheet—I assume the reason for the stumbling is because we’re strictly into our maps to pay any attention, so there’s really no one to blame. I scowl to see the weird name on my schedule.

  “I think you have my sheet.” I mutter. She giggles, and passes me the sheet with my name, I give hers back.

  “I am Azania by the way. I see we will have all the same classes, except for physical training. I’m getting meditation courses,” her accent is deep, like the people from the north. She’s cute and short. Her large long ears stick out of her blonde-greenish hair, her large blue eyes brilliant, almost scary. She looks young, maybe Jorsay’s age or younger.

  “Oh…all-right…umm...sorry about that… bye.” I say awkwardly and rush to the stairs. I’m not interesting in socializing, especially in my brother’s body.

  “See you soon…bye Jorsay!” the happy girl yells waving her hand on the air. I ignore the strange little girl and continue to the second floor.

  I look around the hallway with many numbered doors. I sigh, beaten. I’m annoyed by the castle’s immensity. I stroll down the arch shape hall that seems to move in circles as I walk, making me feel smaller with every step. I suddenly feel dysfunctional by the magic. It’s weakening me, sucking my life.

  After a long walk, the map signals stop. In front of me is a white wooden arc door, number 0322. I flighty knock. It’s always polite to knock, but as nobody answers, I creep in. I take small steps staring around at the round room with six full-sized beds around it, dress in gold with white sheets, matching the fascinating walls and creative spinning ceiling. I gag. If I see more walls moving I swear I’ll fall.

  “Hello!” I bellow, but there’s no answer. I purse my lips, and walk around the room feeling the walls—touching the silky sheets, realizing that room is now my home, at
least until the day I die… which means…whenever.

  “Hey, you must be the new kid,” the voice of a man startles me. I swivel, and halt when I come face to face with a man who’s drying his wet hair with a towel. My mouth drops to the ground and my heart sails to an unthinkable place. I abruptly forget how to breathe, how to swallow. In front of me stands the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen in my life, his excellence makes me question reality.

  - 4 -

  Surroundings

  That’s not the body of a man. It’s the body of a divinity, a man like that couldn’t possibly be created on this world. Magic must’ve constructed him, because in my existence a perfect man could not be made. Suddenly, my world shifts slowly and I see the room go in circles. The man’s mouth opens but I only observe the way his gentle wet lips mouthed. I’m careless, ludicrous with wild sensations. He steadily walks towards me, my heart now puncturing. My knees wobbling.

  The closer he gets, the faster I pick out his small caramel eyes that stare at me with curiosity. I love the way his straight wet blonde hair falls on his cheeks, tingling his olive skin. When the hair comes in contact with his impeccable eyes, he pushes it back, demonstrating his perfection. Bit by bit, my eyes move to his body. His skin still has drops of water that crawls down his hard-rock body. His arms are brawny, combating with all of his other qualities. His chest hard— his stomach has six squares that tightened well on his body. He wears a pair of dark trousers that covers the bit he does not show. “Hey! Kid, are you well!” the man shakes my shoulders. I blush to our closeness. Kid, who you calling a kid, I’m all woman.

  “...I’m fine, perfect really,” I bite my bottom lip to suppress my inner feelings. I pass a hand to my shoulder to twirl my hair, but as I reach my neck I find nothing. My long wavy red-hair is gone. That's when it hit me. I’m in Jorsay’s body. What am I doing? I randomly chortle. “Oh...silly me…” I say laughing. I place my hands on my hips. Dummy, that’s a girl position. Put your hands down. I jerk my hands down and jiggle them. Stop acting like a fool, breathe…breathe. He chuckles.