Prisoner of the Amulet - Chapter 4

 DORULL STORIES - PRISONER OF THE AMULET

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CHAPTER 4

 

 Blinding flash of bright, white light engulfed Sanomis, in an instant as soon as he placed the palm of his left hand on top of the smooth, cold surface of the crystal. It forced him to shut his eyes, contorting his face in a painful grimace of surprise. He jerked aside, turning his head, as if he was trying to escape from this. But to no avail. The light was all around him. And it wasn’t going away.

Sanomis remembered to boot the protective filter mod, in order to save his eyesight. He knew it was powerful enough to protect his eyes, even if he was standing on top of the sun. Sure, his entire body would turn into dust, but at least his eyes would stay intact. Sanomis presumed he’ll be able to see again in no time. But the filter made no difference. The light was radiating with the same intensity, still pinching and stinging through his protected eyelids, deep towards the very nerve endings.

And it didn’t stop there. The pain spread even further, squeezing on his cortex, shooting through his spine. Numbing his limbs. He would give anything and everything to shut it down. To ease the pain. The light activated as he touched the crystal. That one was obvious. Perhaps it would switch off, if he was to move away, Sanomis thought to himself. Still, his arm remained motionless. So did his legs. His entire body refused to obey.

“Do the complete examination.” Sanomis wanted to say, but words simply failed to emerge.

The reason for that petrified him in an instant, as he realized he was missing his mouth. But not as much as the realization that was not the only thing. He was missing arms and legs. Also his entire body and head. And his module. But how? Was this crystal’s doing? That was impossible. Something like that would require exceptionally advanced technology. In the lines of thoughts or even consciousness transfers tech. Which was brand new. Even for vards. As far as he knew, it was still in its testing faze. This planet was far too primitive, for something like that to even exist on it.

Besides that, Sanomis was positive that the crystal wasn’t hiding any mechanical parts. His module would inform him otherwise. No, this was something else. Something strange. Weird. Something even technology and science could not explain. Something unnatural. Something that should not exist.

And still, his consciousness had found itself trapped in this shining nothingness. Somewhere. Nowhere. Beyond reality. But not imaginary. That was obvious, as much as it was unexplainable. Which only increased the frustration. Sanomis loved to think he always had an answer to all and every question. How he could always find a solution to all and every problem. Except now. The situation in which he found himself left him completely perplexed. To the point he failed to notice that the light surrounding him became bearable. Or the fact that he wasn’t alone anymore.

“You dared to return!” a thundering, female voice rolled all around Sanomis.

“Wh…what?” he stammered, shaking like a leaf.

“I warned you what will happen if I ever see you again!” it was as if the voice itself came from all the sides, at the same time.

“Ah…a-a…ahe…” Sanomis was fortunate he was no longer occupying his own body, for his heart probably wouldn’t withstand such a shocking turn.

“What do you have to say in your defense, dwarf?!” the voice sounded even more infuriated than before.

“I…I…”

“But you are not a dwarf…” the female voice seemed to calm for a bit “What are you?”

“V…vard.” Sanomis barely managed to formulate this single word.

“Oh yes, but of course. A vard. I should’ve known that.”

Geologist remained silent. If he was confused up until now, that was nothing compared to this insane twist. How else would he interpret or explain the fact that he was talking with something residing inside the crystal, but as an absolute madness. Something which most likely imprisoned him inside.

“I was hoping I’d never see your kind again.” an angered female voice was now showing the signs of concern “Silly of me. So what brings you back? Did you ran out of work force?”

“Wh…what?” Sanomis gulped, as he was trying to form the word.

“Come now. No need to pretend.” the voice became a tad irritated “I know what your kind created from Dorull.”

“But I…What? I…What are you talking about?” Sanomis stammered trying to defend himself “You. What…who are you even?”

“I am Ch’ybal.”

“What is Ch’ybal?” Sanomis asked.

“That is my name.” a female voice answered “I presume you have one too?”

“Yes. Yes I do.” Sanomis was half embarrassed, the other half was still confused “My name is Sanomis.”

“What are you doing here, Sanomis?”

“I…I was exploring this underground complex, until I stumbled on this cavern here. Upon this odd looking crystal.” the geologist said “Which I presume trapped me. Are you also trapped in here?”

“Inside the crystal?”

“Yes.”

“Of course not.” Ch’ybal answered, “That is preposterous.”

“Then I presume you are the reason I find myself in it.” Sanomis said more to himself “Although I still don’t understand how is that even possible.”

“Perhaps because that would be impossible.” Ch’ybal retorted, not trying to hide the sneering tone in her voice.

“It is?” Sanomis was starting to regain his clarity “So I am not trapped inside the crystal.”

“No.” Ch’ybal answered.

“So where am I then?” Sanomis asked right away.

“You are still in the cave.” Ch’ybal answered.

“I am?! But…but how? I…” Sanomis felt he was losing it again “I’m pretty sure I’m not. But if that’s the truth, I guess I could well be nowhere. I can’t see. I don’t feel my body. On the other side, you are here. Wherever this here is. Perhaps this is nowhere. What is going on? What did you do to me? Why did you trap me?”

“Calm yourself, vard.” Ch’ybal said calmly “You are not a prisoner, although I can see how you might feel as one.”

“So what is this, if not a prison?” Sanomis asked.

“Just an unfortunate effect of our minds melding.” Ch’ybal answered.

“Of what?”

“Stronger mind usually takes control over the other, otherwise the connection over a long distances wouldn’t even be possible.” Ch’ybal explained.

“Wait, you are saying the crystal is some sort of communicator.” Sanomis said “But my sensors failed to detect any device.”

“Device?” Ch’ybal laughed wholeheartedly “Oh silly vard. You and your technology.”

“Then what is it, if not a device?” Sanomis asked, a tad irritated.

“The simplest of spells.” Ch’ybal answered.

“A spell?!” Sanomis exclaimed “As in magic? Hah! What a load of nonsense! Magic does not exist.”

“Oh it doesn’t, you say.” Ch’ybal retorted “And yet, here you are, talking with me, by the means of magic.”

“There must be a rational explanation for that.” Sanomis persisted “This could very well be a hallucination. I probably inhaled some spores, or something.”

“Must’ve been that.” Ch’ybal retorted “You figured it out.”

“The effects will pass through my system in no time.” Sanomis reasoned.

“You have everything under control.” Ch’ybal almost chuckled.

“Any second now.” Sanomis said more to himself.

“Your technology will probably come handy in neutralizing that harmful substance from your organism.” Ch’ybal could no longer help herself, bursting out in laughter.

“Yes, of course.” Sanomis agreed, “Any second now.”

“Now?” Ch’ybal asked through another chuckle.

“Yes. Any second…soon.” Sanomis whispered.

“How about now?” Ch’ybal asked after five seconds of complete silence.

“Is this magic?” Sanomis asked after another five “Is magic real?”

“You are in it now.” Ch’ybal answered “You can feel it. What else do you need?”

“I need the proof.” Sanomis sighed “Listen, we see ourselves on the top of evolutionary ladder. And before you say anything, I think we have a full right to do so, seeing we explored thousands of planets all over the universe.”

“That is understandable.” Ch’ybal said.

“We couldn’t do that without science. Without the help of technology.” Sanomis continued “It helped us establish ourselves, and our presence in almost every galaxy. It helped us learn about countless different worlds. And yet all of those worlds had something in common. There was no magic in any of them.”

“I pity those worlds.” Ch’ybal was honest.

“It is how it is.”

“Or it’s that way, because you wanted it to stay hidden. Unknown. Nonexistent.”

“The magic exists in those worlds.” Sanomis said “But only in forms of stories for little children.”

“Perhaps the adults should’ve paid attention to such stories. So they wouldn’t, in their ignorance, be responsible for thousands upon thousands of deaths.” Ch’ybal’s voice shuddered for the first time.

“Why do I have a feeling that’s supposed to mean something to me?” Sanomis said “What are you talking about?”

“I am talking about the unfortunate, let’s call them mistakes, from the past.” Ch’ybal answered “Ones, I hope, you won’t repeat.”

“What?” Sanomis was perplexed by even more “Mistakes. What mistakes?”

“Probably the same ones that bring you back to Dorull, once again.” Ch’ybal retorted.

“Bring us back to Dorull? But…but this is the first time we are here.”

“Of course you are.” The sarcasm in Ch’ybal’s voice was palpable. “I am mistaking you for the other species of intergalactic travelers, who are also called vards.”

“Well no, but you got to believe me.” Sanomis said “This planet had the mark of an unexplored one.”

“Sure it did.” Ch’ybal sounded annoyed.

“I don’t know what else you want me to say.” Sanomis was desperate.

“The truth.” Ch’ybal retorted.

“The truth?” Sanomis asked “The truth about what?”

“The truth behind the reason for your return here.” Ch’ybal hissed.

“Our mission is exploratory. Devised in order to collect and document the information about the planet.”

“With what purpose?” Ch’ybal asked immediately.

“Well, we are hoping the variety of life forms on Dorull will be of help in understanding the very origins and expansion of life throughout the entire known universe.” Sanomis answered.

“How noble of you.” Ch’ybal muttered.

“You don’t think so?” Sanomis finally recognized the sarcastic tone in Ch’ybal’s voice.

“I know your kind far too well to just lay my trust in your words.” Ch’ybal was resolute.

“Ah yes, because according to you, we’ve already been here.” Sanomis retorted “But that can’t be. As I said before, this is the first time we are here.”

“Why do you persist on lying?” Ch’ybal raised her voice a bit.

“I am telling the truth.” Sanomis defended himself.

“Liar!”

“I am not a liar!”

“Either you are a liar, or you’ve been lied to.” Ch’ybal drew a possible conclusion.

“Who’d lie to me?” Sanomis asked.

“I don’t know.” Ch’ybal said “Whoever sent your merry expedition here.”

“Why would they lie to me?” Sanomis’ whispered “Why would they lie to us? That doesn’t make any sense. We came here to explore. To learn.”

“If you say so.” Ch’ybal retorted.

“I mean, what else could we do here?” Sanomis proceed “Why would we do anything else?”

“That’s for you to find out.” Ch’ybal said “But I think you already know.”

“Well I don’t.” Sanomis answered “So why don’t you fill me in.”

“Ah, so now you are prepared for the truth.” Ch’ybal said.

“If the truth is that I was living a lie, then the answer is yes.” Sanomis retorted, somewhat surprised by his response.

Only then it became obvious how much he began believing, trusting this being. And it happened all so sudden, out of nowhere. The magical link activated the parts of Sanomis’ mind, he never had the opportunity to use. It opened a window to an entirely new world. Show him how much he still had to learn, even about himself.

The connection with Ch’ybal barred him. Left him unprotected. Open. Vulnerable. Without a possibility to hide. To escape. And yet Sanomis felt at ease. Without a care in the world. At peace. Calm. And more than everything else, he felt relief. The link freed him from all negative thoughts and impulses. All that was left was peace and truth. Sanomis realized why, once it became apparent the connection between him and Ch’ybal was reciprocal. He received as much as he gave. And from her, he was getting the purest honesty.

Soon enough, it felt like he actually knew this being. Although, there were still some details that needed to be explained and clarified. Like what in actuality the ice maiden was? And what was she the protector of? It had to be connected with this magical mysticism of hers. In time, Sanomis was hoping he’d be able to understand it. But for now, he was more concerned about Ch’ybal’s antagonism towards vards. What was the reason for it? What and how did she knew about them? Was she telling the truth about their previous visitations on this planet? What was she accusing them of doing here?

Sanomis figured he’ll be able to do so, the same way he learned about Ch’ybal. By keeping the open connection between their minds. By trying to read her thoughts and her memories. Her knowledge. He felt she was kind and just. He felt she was truthful. Still, that meant nothing, if there was no weight behind her words. He had to find the proof. But he didn’t even had a chance to try, Ch’ybal put a stop to that.

“When I said you need to find out the truth, I didn’t mean you can take it from me.”

“I…I apologize.” Sanomis stammered.

“You have to find it on your own.”

“I…but where?” Sanomis whispered “How?”

“You already know the answers to those particular questions.” Ch’ybal said.

“I do?”

“You do.”

“I do.” Sanomis said “And I know that won’t be easy.”

“The search for the truth is never easy.” Ch’ybal retorted.

“What will happen once I find it?” Sanomis asked.

“Well then, you and I are going to have a rather serious conversation.” Ch’ybal answered.

“Y…yes. I guess we are.” Sanomis stuttered “Where? Here?”

“So be it.” Ch’ybal retorted.

“Alright.” Sanomis said.

“Goodbye vard.” Ch’ybal said “And good luck, for all of our sakes.”

“Goo…” the light suddenly flashed again, shutting itself a second later.

“…dbye.” Sanomis moved his hand from the crystal.

He was back, in his body.