CHAPTER 79 – INFERNO OF FAITH


    Mitakahn moved everyone through the outside courtyard after there was no clear way to get to the Cloud Tower. Where their tower ended, it was almost as if a looking glass divided them from the Cloud Tower, the perfect reflection, save clouds instead of the ground. The winds kicked up and they went further inside. There was a bridge they hadn’t noticed before, over a wide river of… lava separating them from the other side of the tower, which had three tubular cases coiling together and leading up. That was where they needed to go. Somehow the tower was channeling the volcano way up here at the top. This was ancient technology. The sun began to set. It had been a long day. Mitakahn wondered what the catch would be. The horizontal shine of the sun’s tiring rays began to burn away the bridge over the lava.


    “RUN!” yelled Mitakahn as they all sprinted with haste over the bridge.


    Anilithion was first across with Mitakahn, followed by Bridger, and Excelsior and Euphrati both riding Orion. Kunezar was behind them, but in front of Tron, and finally Humbler, with his heavy footsteps pounding the bridge into the lava. Humbler, now moving as fast as he could to avoid the decaying bridge, was not used to abrupt slowdowns and ran into his friends.


    They were swept off the ground by the suction of the tubes’ vacuum and sucked up into the spiraling tubes. Bridger was first. Anilithion lifted off his feet, and instinctively drew his whip, latching onto a railing, saving himself. Orion backed away, but the sheer force of the suction was too much, and his legs gave free. Anilithion grabbed a hold of Mitakahn’s arm as Excelsior blew by, with Orion and Euphrati. Humbler along with Kunezar and Tron were all sucked into another tube.


    Mitakahn looked at Anilithion holding on and said, “This time we let go, Ani!” as he released his cousin’s arm and flew into the tube after everyone.


    Anilithion took a deep breath, the wind from the vacuum still pulling at his body, and relinquished the whip’s grip on the railing, letting him loose.


    Inside the middle tier of the top penthouses of the Observatory, Mitakahn got up and found some of his fellow travelers around him. Euphrati woke up beside Orion and Excelsior. He helped up Anilithion. A template was placed in the middle of the roof house.


    When Mitakahn got close enough he could see that it was the second part of Prometheus’ legend. There was nothing else in the room, just thin clear-glass columns lining the entire perimeter. Technically walls, but when Mitakahn walked forward the movement revealed the outside sun-setting sky. Mitakahn could not figure out what to do. Soon, they all gathered around the embedded tablet stumped. Euphrati had even managed to hang onto the Prometheus Key, but there was nowhere to put it. There were no more options, and they were running out of time.


    The sun was approaching the Temple of Fire in the distance as it set. There had to be some trick to it, but neither Mitakahn, nor anyone else, could think of anything. Mitakahn felt the sun''s glimmer of fleeting waves on his face. He meditated on the energy, both positive and neutral; and how before it was in the right place at the right time during the mass. Perhaps this was the same as that in some way? But what could he possibly do to deduce the time?


    Mitakahn expressed his ideas to his friends. Euphrati and Anilithion thought it was a good idea. Excelsior questioned how they would be able to apply it. No one had an answer, another dead end. Maybe the other two groups were having better luck. Unfortunately, they were not. Bridger was alone in the first penthouse tower on his knees before the introductory part of the legend tablet embedded in the middle of the floor.


    On the rightmost tier, Tron, along with Humbler, and Kunezar also sat on the flat glass around the last installment of the Prometheus Legend, trying to figure out a solution. It was neither of these two groups that would be able to. No, the center tier with the Prometheus Key was the only way out and to move on. But neither Mitakahn, nor anyone else would be able to decipher the final puzzle.


    A brief stretch of time passed which felt like an eternity to the group. A pregnant silence took hold, flooding Mitakahn with anxiety. He could not afford to lose any more time on this. What were they to do? What were they missing? Was it possible their combined wits were not enough? A wave of hubris departed Mitakahn as his own self-awareness kicked in. He would not lose hope.


    Out from the clouded sky came their deliverance. Chronis, the silver-tipped hawk flew into the tower and landed next to Mitakahn. He fluttered the feathers on the back of his head and dipped his head before Mitakahn, as if to bow. After that he hopped over to Euphrati and bowed again.


    “Euphrati, I think he wants the key…”


    Chronis took the Prometheus Key in his mouth and flew over to the side of the room closest to the setting sun. He connected the handle of the phoenix’s face with the rays of sunshine beaming through the Temple of Fire with his tail. The angle reflected off the phoenix’s eyes and caught the crystal tablet.


    The tablet caught aglow, and a red beam burst into the sky. The red glow seemed to spread like wildfire into each of the other tiers, and then through the tower roof. The red beam flew straight up into the sky and connected to the tower floating above him. Everything began to shake. The tower roofs opened up and unlatched as they grew closer together.


    Both the Observatory that the company was in and the Observatory in the clouds stretched as if the entire picture skewed. The walls fully opened up, connecting the three penthouses, reuniting the group, while the tower increasingly climbed into the air. The floating Observatory in the clouds opened up and enclosed around them. Everyone else fell back as Mitakahn rose to his feet, and the two towers connected, cutting off all light. The ground was far too crooked. When the two Observatories finished connecting the floor snapped right. Everyone, already unbalanced, were once again taken off their feet (this time including Mitakahn).


    The floor shifted below them and then gave out. But there was a wall of metal bars keeping them in. The original Observatory shrunk back to the mountains, returning to normal, regaining its roof. Chronis flew onto Mitakahn’s shoulder and dropped the key in his hand. He cawed and fluttered his wings, re-adjusting his stance. Mitakahn looked forward and saw a giant wooden boat, with six paddles waiting for them.


    Orion and Euphrati got in the middle of the boat as Mitakahn, Anilithion, and Excelsior picked up paddles, and Tron, Kunezar, Bridger, and Humbler pushed off. They rode the sunrays back down towards the temple. That was the way that Prometheus’ recruits went. This had to be the end of their path.


    The sunrays gradually turned to a river of molten hot lava and began burning the bottom of the boat. Halfway there and the smoke was sizzling through their seats. The company now had to scatter around the edges of the crumbling boat. Chronis flew from Mitakahn’s shoulder when things began to get too hot. The lava was being rapidly fed, morphing into fiery embers and red hot coals.


    They would soon be passing the Temple and have one shot at jumping over before their boat burned entirely away; that is, if they wanted to give up on the trials and their mission.


    After all this, how could they give up now? But would it be worth possibly burning to death? Mitakahn remembered the third rule of the trials, “to know that the Phoenix has all her disciples’ best interests in mind.”


    The temple dock passed, and no one jumped off. Instead, the boat was gone, disintegrated, and everyone had to walk on the blisteringly hot floor. Running for dear life and sprinting to avoid as much pain as possible. It was the most vulnerable who raced ahead of the curve. Orion, not wearing any shoes or boots, was suffering tremendously as the flames burned the pads on his paws. He ran ahead, as everyone else succumbed to the disintegration of the soles of their shoes.


    What was only a short distance of maybe seven paces, seemed like a lifetime to the broken company. Kunezar and Anilithion were trying to help up Humbler as Euphrati, Tron, Bridger, and Excelsior crawled on their elbows and knees in one last attempt. Their skin started to blister and burn. It was only Mitakahn who was still on his feet. Mumbling in dire hopes, “It’s just a test…just a test…”Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    He let out a scream of agony that could have been heard around the world as he tried to put the key in. A hole opened for it and took its turn. But the wall of the glass-fire did not open. Instead, a voice came out of nowhere and beckoned onto them, “For your fifth and final trial, solve this question of awareness under fire…


    “What did the Phoenix tell Prometheus the importance of her being was?”


    “Her mere presence in the world alone was responsible for…” yelled Euphrati, trying to recall the rest.


    “The orbit around the sun,” yelped Tron.


    Humbler fell over to his side, sucked of all energy, ready to give up and die.


    “The progression of time,” added Excelsior as he crawled to Orion, and lifted the pup’s head off the burning hot floor and onto his own chest.


    “The shifting of the tectonic plates and the innermost heat of the planet’s core,” rattled off Bridger as he finished their answer.


    Was it only those four things? They no longer had the templates to check. They could only rely on memory. Was that good enough to keep them alive? The fire consumed them all.


    The wall of fire lowered to reveal a beautiful dark amber archway. Inside the archway was the great eternal altar. The company slowly tried to get to their feet. They walked under the arches and into the altar room. As they passed through the arches they were completely healed, and their clothes looked as though they were never burnt. The pain imploded into headaches and then vanished, quickly forgotten. Orion danced around like he was shaking off the frightful memory5.


    The archway had cleansed them of the lava river trial, their final trial. The Keymaster trials were over, and they had finally made it to the Flame Eterna. There waiting for them in the altar room, sat one of the most famous warriors and guardians of all time.


    The Great Lord Nikoli, Gatekeeper of the Flame Eterna, sat with eternal youth and devotion to its safety and essence. They walked up the slow ledge of stairs. Orion kept at Excelsior’s heel, recognizing the special occasion. The Great Lord of the Phoenix Kingdom sat in his chamber in a chair carved out of the cavern wall, big enough only for the titan himself to sit on, silently awaiting their arrival…


    Legend of the Phoenix


    Long ago, when the world of man was first created, the same power that forged the fire of the white sun created a phoenix. The Phoenix was created by the gods to watch over the will of man. The mighty creature was both supernatural and material. A grand beast, it was the original ancestor of the bird species, a primordial version of the many different kinds of bird that inhabited these lands today.


    The gods sculpted the Phoenix with detailed feathers of flame. And a powerful crimson beak to rest its large withholding eyes upon. The Phoenix’s shape and appearance were constantly morphing and changing, as wild as a brushfire. The fire it emitted burned so bright it brought a golden shine to all that surrounded it. The magical bird lived in its own constant fire, continually flowing out and around the SkyLorde’s body. Its nature was purely divine.


    This Phoenix was a god itself. She represented the sun, which was the earth’s compass. The flying spirit kept balance in her domain, everything under the sun in space and on MagnaThora. She flew through the world and carved the mountains with its noble flame. The Phoenix founded the Burning Mountains and engraved its home in the highest peak: Mount Fire.


    The only thing she left behind was this flame that burns without end. When the great Lorde Alphatross comes into this world for a flight it is always a voyage of purpose and significance. When her mission is over the sunbird burns out. Her ashes sink deep into the ground. They soak into the earth; and, over time, return to Mount Fire…


    ? ? ?


    “…This celestial candle is the heart of our order. This is where the Phoenix rebirths and re enters into our domain. You see the flame is very special to all of us. The Phoenix keeps life and spirit alive in this world. Its light is essential to our survival. That is why we never leave the mountain and always worship and defend to keep it alive. It is a symbiotic relationship we live with the Phoenix, Lorde Alphatross.”


    “We all devote our lives to the Flame of the Phoenix, and because of that we are blessed with long healthy lives, and these magnificent wings of fire. I am the leader of this kingdom, and accordingly I am the strongest. That is why it is my responsibility to never leave this place. I am Nikoli, Gatekeeper of the Divine Source.”


    Mitakahn digested the words of the saint and bowed to one knee. The rest followed. They paid homage to his sacrifice.


    “Do you have the Prometheus Key?” Nikoli called for.


    Mitakahn presented him with the Prometheus Key by lifting it above his head.


    Nikoli laughed, took the key, and said, “Take your feet brave Prince, and tell me why you have traveled all this way, be it not for pilgrimage.”


    “Well…my lord, first I thank you for sending your priests to my father’s funeral. They provided a proper ceremony for his farewell. But I come with disparaging news. The darkness is back. The ancient evil that plagued this land long ago has returned and invaded my kingdom. They sailed the forbidden pass and successfully navigated the straits, avoiding the chasm. Soon the shadow will devour our lands and infect the rest of MagnaThora. There is not much time left,” confessed Mitakahn.


    “What is it… that you want me to do? We have no army and we do not wish to intervene in the affairs of foreign nations.”


    “We do not come to ask for your allegiance,” interrupted Excelsior, “Because we already know your answer. Our reasons for our travels are much…grander.”


    “Then tell me Wanderer, what is the true reason for your company?”


    “Mitakahn has been selected by the combined wisdom of the gods to turn the page of history. His dreams have foretold the tragedies that have terrorized his land, and there is one more piece to the puzzle…” preluded Excelsior.


    “It has come to our understanding that a magical sword exists and could be the key to my nation’s rescue-”


    “You speak of the Sword of Heroes…The Crucifire Sword. It is a myth of old, nothing more.” Nikoli quickly interrupted Mitakahn, attempting to put the legend to bed.


    “It is here. The gods practically told me so!” countered Mitakahn.


    “The gods.. have talked to you?” scoffed Nikoli.


    “It was the goddess Epiphany, who came to me when we were at the Temple of Virtue,” continued Mitakahn.


    “The Temple of Virtue? You found the actual temple? And talked to the goddess, herself? Well then, it seems as though I have underestimated you. But I’m afraid…If the Crucifire Sword was here, I would have found it by now. I know this place inside and out,” reasoned Nikoli.


    “Not necessarily,” argued Mitakahn.


    “I beg your pardon?”


    “You were never looking for it…” explained Mitakahn.


    “Are there any other crevices or caves besides this room?” asked Tron.


    “No, this is the only room,” answered Nikoli.


    “Then there is only one place left to look…” Mitakahn closed his vision in on the Flame Eterna.


    There it was, in front of him burning from the fuel of collective faith. Mitakahn approached the flame. It burned upon an altar carved out of the mountain. The flame did not spawn from any point. Rather, it sat upon the altar, a being in itself.


    Mitakahn’s world grew dark around him. All that remained were him and the flame. He walked closer to it. The solution was close now. He could feel it. He had followed blind faith up until now, leading him to this very point. It would not make much sense if faith did not come into play for this final step. Chronis landed on Mitakahn’s shoulder and it became clear to him. The silver gauntlet shifted into place around his hand. A brief doubt shot down the back of his mind. The gauntlet was flame retardant and not fireproof. It mattered not.


    This had to be it.


    Everything slowed down.


    Mitakahn looked down at his left hand, believing this would not be for the last time. He closed his eyes, and reached into the flame, searching for a grip...