Page #12

“Antiqua virtus inest, ut puer hic frater tuus transibit hic lapis in Madaemar.” <Ancient power that resides here switch this boy with your brother stone in Madaemar.> As Madam Dianna recites the spell each of the rune stones of the warp gate begin to light up until all five of them glow like stars, with a final burst of light Madam Dianna and Professor Faulk turn away averting their eyes from the blinding flash. When they look back Kota’s body and is gone and lying in his place is a simple stone with a glowering rune sizzling in the earth.

Inside the warp Kota’s body flies through a cylindrical worm hole with countless curves and bends then suddenly at the end of the tunnel Kota sees the ground rush up to meet him. With a resounding thud Kota lands in the middle of his village just beside the well. Unable to sustain consciousness Kota’s mind fell into a void where he could only feel the heat and pain of the venom pulsing through him.

                                                  …

        Upon waking Kota is aware of voices calling to him but his mouth feels as though it is locked tightly be some invisible chain of pain, for every time he attempts to open his jaw a vicious pain hinders his speech. As Kota opens his eyes the evening light of a single candle burns his eyes as though he was gazing into the sun itself. Eventually his eyes adjust to the room it feels as if years have passed since he was last awake. Kota managed to sit up inside his bed and look around. (Of all the angels in heaven…I’m home…How did I?) His eyes flew to his arm covered with far too many bandages. They smelled of death and Kota eyed them warily wondering when the last time his bandage shad been changed properly. Kota took a closer look at the room he was occupying though it was most certainly his old room many things were different. For starters his room had been painted yellow, there were now two beds occupying his space and his once proud trophy case had been removed and a mural painted in its place. Although all of this had changed his desk from before he left had every paper right where he left it, a film of dust covered his half of the room. His desk seemed to be undisturbed by time. And at the foot of his bed a young blonde boy with a long green ponytail sleeps quietly. Kota has to double check but the little brat snoozing at the end of his bed is indeed his little brother Scotty. It had been over 4 years since he had last laid eyes on his little brother. When Kota had left Scotty was a scrawny brat who had little to no promise of ever developing a worthwhile skill. Now it seemed Scotty had a chance of being a decent care giver.