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Chapter 3
"Ugh..." groaned Alex as he woke a few hours later. He didn't remember much. There was the bookshop, the book on the shelf. Everything after was a blur. Maybe it had all been another dream. Yeah, that was it. Just another dream. When he opens his eyes, he'll be back in his room.
He opened his eyes.
He found himself, not in his room like he hoped, but sitting against the wall of a large and dry cave, a Fire crackling merrily in the middle of the floor. At the back wall of the cave, a huge murial was painted.
Emma and Seth were beside him on either side, still unconsious and with blankets draped over them, same as him. Outside the cave, it was raining heavily, large drops breaking through the thick canopy.
"Good to see you're finally wake, youung Protector." said a voice.
Alex snapped his head around and saw an old man sitting on the other side of the fire, a soft smile on his wrinkled face. He hadn't been there a few seconds ago. The man had a shock, literatly, like he stuck his finger in a light socket, of stark white hair and goatee.
"Wh-who are you?" Alex studdered, his awe quickly being replaced by panic. The man had on a long silver robe that pooled around him and dark blue trimmings with silver symbols. A tall wooden staff was leaning against the wall beside the man, a large crystal sphere was set into the staff, near the top.
"My name is Sifu," the man said politely, putting a hand over his heart and inclining his head. "And you are Alexander O'Riley."
"How do you know my name?" demanded Alex, his voice becoming more firm.
"Oh, I know everything about you," replied the man. "You, and your friends." He indicated Seth and Emma.
"How?"
"I'm a Preciver," Sifu answered. "I see the future, the past, space, time."
"How do you see time?" Alex asked with skeptical tone.
"Very carefully." answered the man. Alex thought it best not to press the matter. He didn't want to know.
The man's tone was friendly and told Alex that he was trustworthy, but Alex didn't know why.
"What is this place?" he asked, his eyes aimlessly wandering around the cave.
"Do you want your exact location, or a general idea?" questioned Sifu, stoking the fire with a poke of his staff.
"Uh...both."
"You are in the Oracle Cavern," the old man waved a hand around the cave. "The Cavern is in the Forest of Craven, which can be found on the eastern coast of Kelowna."
"Kelowna? Never heard of it." Alex said.
"Of course you haven't. Few people from your world do." provided Sifu. "You're not in your world anymore, young Protector."
At that moment, everything came back to Alex in a flash. "Wh-what?" he stammered, thunderstruck. "What do you mean?"
Sifu took his staff and stood, walking over to the massive mural on the cave wall. "I meant exactly what you heard. You are no longer on Earth." he replied.
Alex stood unsteadily and started to pace. "That can't be. That's impossible!" he insisted.
"In Kelowna, impossible doesn't exsist. Everything that you call impossible is merely improbable." He went to the back of the cave and went a down narrow passge way. He came back a few minutes later carrying a small earthware cup filled with a steaming drink. "Here, drink this." Sifu said, handing Alex the cup.
"What is it?" Alex demanded, not trusting the drink.
"It's called Serenity Tea. Calms you down."
Alex lifted the cup to his lips and sipped at the tea. Immediatly, he felt a warm sense of content and calm flowing through his body. He leaned against the wall and slid down to a sitting position.
"I suggest you get some sleep, Protector." Sifu advised kindly. Alex nodded serenly and reached for his blanket, throwing it over himself and quickly falling asleep.
"I have something to tell you and your friends once you wake." Sifu said quietly, putting the fire out with several jabs from his staff.
 Pamplemousse Grenouille · Tue Jan 23, 2007 @ 12:58am · 4 Comments |
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