Preview of “The Soul Snatchers”

13/9/2016

Prologue

Before the Fairies existed to answer human fears, the mother of creations offered two choices for all men, after her embodiment in two forms defeated the four brothers. Although she wished that all humans be kind and virtuous, she knew there inevitably would be a few seeking the material possessions long lost in the darkness. The two choices she offered were to either be virtuous or immoral in nature. Most wise men believed that virtuousness is only valued because of the immoral and they quoted it “Only in the darkness shall light pave way and only in ignorance can one desecrate a day.”

Men are the brightest of all creations but their resolute is weak without a purpose and so the choices were given by the Mother.
While men who chose being virtuous, held their icon as Olrin, the symbol of knowledge and the master who defeated the Great Dream led their lives helping each other and wished for nothing more than peace and bliss. While the men who chose the dark powers held their icon as Archen and their driving desire was unyielding power and eternal life.

Since ages, both these choices were balanced but as years passed by, most humans supported Olrin. The world for the first time witnessed an imbalance and most men believed that a war was near and that it would certainly not lead to a happy ever after.

Chapter I
Chain of Three Jewels

A century after Olrin held the last council which was conducted every year to help humans solve their problems; the world was ruled by a ferocious Emperor named Aelius. He ruled the complete Vernakula World and was blessed with a powerful army and a lot of wealth. However he wasn’t happy as he did not have a descendant for many years.

After several sacrifices and rituals to the Mother, he was blessed with a boy and he named him Saviour. Born with blue eyes and milk white skin tone, the boy was charming and as he grew, he was trained to be an exceptional warrior. When the prince was fifteen years old, he fell ill and was bedridden. Neither the healers nor the councillors could help cure his illness and as days passed by he grew weak.
One night, Aelius stood beside the window in his private chamber, staring at the stars wishing for a miracle to happen, his shining black hair and crimson silk robe swaying with a cold breeze. Moonlight lit the chamber and the stone walls hymned as the autumn winds struck them. The door opened and Aelius turned to see his minister Glinda walk in. She was a lean old woman with white silky hair till her waist. Her shallow green eyes sparkled in the dim room and when she approached the Emperor she bowed.

“What is it, Glinda? What brings you to me at this hour?” asked Aelius curiously looking back at the dark sky.

“It is about our prince, Emperor,” she answered.

The Emperor turned towards her and she continued “It hurts me to tell you about this, Emperor, but being the minister under your command and blessed with many powers, it is my duty to do so. Our prince is a blessed soul and is capable of wearing the Chain of Three Jewels which is held with the Knights of Merk. By wearing this chain, our prince's soul will become visible to a few mortals including me after his death, and he can help me in my pursuit to find Olrin- the lost icon of our faith. I did not tell you about this all these years because, I hoped that our prince might live but as days are passing by, darkness is embracing him.”

Aelius sternly said “My son has been dead since the day he got ill and I wish him not to suffer any longer. I have no objection to what you said, as my son would help thousands of men by helping you find Olrin. However I want you to succeed in this mission at any cost!”

“Your kind heart is what makes our people prosperous, Emperor and I are grateful for your acceptance. I cannot assure you that I will surely know where Olrin is, as even the greatest minds in the world have failed to find him. Counting on your acceptance, I have already sent three battalions to fight against the Knights on my command. They will fetch us the Chain of Three Jewels.”

Aelius smirked and said “I am lucky to have you Glinda. Your service is unparalleled. Let me know when our men are back.”

Glinda bowed and before leaving she said “I expect them to be here by sunrise, Emperor.”

Chapter II
Soul Cages

Glinda sat in her chamber awake all night waiting for the Generals to return. Even the cold autumn breeze and the pleasant atmosphere could not make her fall asleep.

As the Sun rose, she heard the city guards drumming. Getting off her chair, she immediately raced towards the ministers’ hall which was towards the South of the palace.
She sat in her chair opposite to the door, closing her eyes; she wished that her Generals fetched her Chain of Three Jewels. She was so lost in her thoughts that she did not even hear a General walk in and a moment later she heard a firm voice saying “Olrin did fulfil your wish minister. I have finally brought you back the Chain of Three Jewels as you commanded. However, the war of Golden Tower did take a lot of lives, Generals and soldiers alike.”

Opening her eyes to look at General Hector, Glinda gladly exclaimed “You are back! Hail Olrin!”

General Hector was one of the six Generals who led the battalions against the Knights of Merk.

“The Cursed in the Golden Fort were extraordinarily skilled ministers and their charms along with their teleportation power made them invincible. While six Generals walked in with the swords given to us by you, I am the only lucky survivor,” said Hector looking into the shallow green eyes of Glinda.

The entire room was once more silent and the breeze hymned as it always did.

“I always believed in you,” stated Glinda looking at the forty years old General with a muscular body and amber brown skin tone. His silver coated armour with two crossed swords symbol was stained with the knights’ blood. He passed her the Chain of Three Jewels and Glinda looked at the three gemstones, Ruby, Emerald and Sapphire embedded in gold.

As Hector walked back towards the stables, Glinda glared at the three jewels. She recollected reading the fairies of Kingdom of Imprin forge it.

Holding the chain, Glinda rushed to the royal chambers of Prince Saviour. As she entered she could see Emperor Aelius sitting beside his son like he did for an hour every morning.

Looking at Glinda he furiously screamed “I wish my power as an Emperor could somehow help save my son!”

“Everything happens for a reason, Emperor. Let us not forget that even the scariest night’s end with the brightest light and not a soul is reborn without a purpose to serve”, said Glinda trying to soothe the Emperor.

“It’s easier said than experienced,” retorted the Emperor, looking at his son who lay asleep for a year.

Aelius continued “I have sat for a year, waiting for my son to be cured. Every morning, I walk towards his chamber hoping that he would open his eyes and I have always been disappointed. Glinda, even faith shatters at some point of time.”

Glinda looked at the prince for a moment and asked “The chain has arrived, Emperor. However before I use it, I must presage that our prince might even die the moment he wears it.”

Aelius placed his hands on the prince’s face and kissed on his forehead for one last time and walked out of the chamber. As he walked past Glinda, he said in a broken voice “Forgive me, son. I have never taken good care of you. If your mother would have been alive, she might have made sure you lived a happy life. Forgive me for what I am about to do to you.”

When the Emperor left, Glinda adorned the prince with the chain and immediately rushed towards the meditation hall which was built in between the royal gardens beside the palace. Standing in the centre of the meditation hall that had ten meditating saints, she chanted a hex.

For a moment she left her body and travelled back to the prince’s chamber as a soul. As soon as she reached, she could see the soul of the prince rise from his body. She followed the soul as it travelled through the capital city searching for a graveyard. The soul rushed through anything that came in its way and finally reached a graveyard. For a moment everything seemed normal but what Glinda saw in the graveyard aghast her. She returned to her mortal form, and screamed, “Fetch me a horse, now!” her screams disturbing the saints.

An old man who served in the meditation hall by cleaning it every day on her command brought a horse from the stables. She informed the old man to send word to the Emperor that she would return back as soon as possible.

Later she rode North towards the radiating City of Fairies for few days through the City of Fists, a clumsy and unplanned city best known for the rivers that flew through it, she finally reached the Fort of Four Hunters. One of the most successful achievements for Glinda was that her son was a Hunter. The fort built with black stone, was huge and was located in the outskirts of the city of Fairies which was the most beautiful city in the entire world.

Beside the fort, were a lake and a lawn that covered the fort in all directions. It was the home for the Hunters who spent their lifetime learning and fighting according to the Mother's orders. From the past few decades, they spent their days learning about the shortcomings in all the creations and searching for Olrin. They lost their communication with Mother as their icon who spoke the Mother’s words was nowhere to be found.

As Glinda rode towards the fort, before she reached the gates, she could see Kingston, a muscular man wearing blue robes, the chief of all Hunters teaching children in the lawn how to fight with swords. After she mentioned to the guards that she wanted to see her son Jasper, she was permitted to enter and her horse was taken to the stables.

As she entered the main hall, she saw Wiler the smartest of all the Hunters with golden eyes, cream white skin tone and lean face with red curly hair. He was her son’s best friend and as usual was writing a book. Seeing Glinda, he greeted her and informed her directions to Jasper’s new room.

As soon as she reached her son’s chamber, she hugged him. After a moment of casual talk, she explained to him how she had ordered for the Chain of Three Jewels and told him “When the prince’s body reached the graveyard, Cursed soldiers of Archen locked his soul in one of thousand Soul Cages built.”

Jasper, the best archer among the Hunters with black silky hair, tiffany blue eyes and ivory white skin tone looked at her, shocked and she continued “In the meditation hall the wise had called it the Cage of Desired Souls!”

Jasper thought for a moment and shrieked “With the cages, everything makes sense!”