Will of Kastha Chapter 2

Date: Lansith 102, 25638

    The first day we met her was a warm day in Lansith. We were four years old and lived within the tiny cellar room of the orphanage, hidden carefully from the outside world by the matron. The room itself was lined with dirt and was a mere nine steps wide and twelve steps long. We had paced the room enough to be able to count every step in our sleep. Dirt had long ago crumbled away enough for a crack large enough for us to look out to form. From this tiny hole we begun to learn from the other children who played, blissfully unaware of us. From them we learned to count and what the gold light that sometimes came within our room was the sun and the white light that came after were the moon and stars.

That morning I had woken Eirlys upon hearing the matron unlocking the rotted cellar door. I had learned fast that she had a special despise for my twin and made sure to be the one to greet the woman as she came each morning. I rushed over to the entrance, eager to receive the burnt bread she would throw and the pail holding the weeks leftover food which came in a variety of different foods which we enjoyed immensely.

She flung the bread at my feet before handing the heavy pail without so much as a greeting. I whispered a hoarse thanks and received a slightly warm smile as she nodded coldly, before her eyes set upon Eirlys who  glares sullenly at the food at my feet with a slight scowl.I I threw Eirlys a dark glare behind the Matron’s back, knowing the woman wouldn’t think twice before taking away the only food we were to have today.

Thankfully, the matron  doesn’t take the food back but merely narrowed her eyes  as she straightens herself, hands smoothing her red cotton dress.. I frowned at spotting the bandages wrapped tightly around the woman’s hands but before I can ask she suddenly rages at Eirlys who had kicked the bread across the room.

She could’ve given us something better, Endellion. She’s a spiteful old woman.

You didn’t help much either, you know. Still she tried at least. You didn’t have to kick it especially when we needed it.

She’s still an old hag who doesn’t care that two four year olds were living in very unpleasant and cruel conditions, brother. But go ahead and explain how she deserves some respect.

She does! But going back to how you kicked the bread across the room. The matron’s ashen eyes had hardened before her face turned red with fury as she finally spoke, “Ungrateful brat! You should be happy I even bother coming here every morning.”

She slammed the door with such force dirt fell from the ground above us. I winced at the loud creak the rusted lock gave as it was locked. I threw a heated scowl at my sister before picking up the bread and pail to the metal shelf once used for various tools and cans which long have become rotten from the years of no use. Pushing the cans away I shifted through the various foods the pail had inside and my amber eyes widened upon sight and scent of pasta.

“She brought us lasagna!”  I cheered while Eirlys shrugs before sitting back down on the torn quilt covered straw we made as a bed. Green eyes still glowered at the spot where the matron had been, silently thinking.

“Eirlys?” I prodded her with a bony finger when she doesn’t answer only to find myself staring confused at a strange new marking on the wall which had suddenly appeared.

I resolved for solving this new mystery later while moving back to the metal shelf to meticulously place the food in six even meals for the two of us before kneeling down to uncover a hidden stash of children’s books that had been thrown down here for storage a few years before we arrived.

Finding a book down at the bottom called ‘The Tales of Gastran the ArchMage’ drew me in as I pulled it out just as Eirlys murmured from her spot in the corner, “Endellion, do you ever wonder what happened to mom and dad?”

I turned at the sudden question before fumbling over the words to say, “Of course, but you do know that if they could we wouldn’t be here, right?”

She frowned and looked down at her hands before shaking her head carefully, “No, but then what happened? How can you be sure they didn’t leave us like the other kids say theirs did?”

I can’t answer that and shrugged helplessly before pulling out the book and settling down with the strange symbol just beside me. Eirlys leans on my shoulder as we begin to read aloud the story with cautious glances over at the entrance, knowing that the matron would be furious if children came to her with tales of someone telling stories within our room.

I paused in my sentence as the paper suddenly cuts my finger.  Without a thought, I placed the bleeding hand on the wall just on top of the symbol. A sudden thump startled us as we peer over at the wall with fear shimmering in our eyes. The wall vanished to reveal a crumbling marble stairway that looked sturdy enough to walk on.

Hesitating, I lightly placed my foot on the first step to almost jump when the cold stone froze my sensitive skin. Eirlys stumbled on a loose rock and together we fell to the ground where we landed rather ungracefully. I pulled Eirlys up before taking in the scattered ruins surrounding us with frightening clarity. Burned flags with an odd symbol stand around the remains of humans in what looked like a battle. Rusted swords lay upon the ground all around. I peered around what looked like an old tower to find that this place seemed to stretch farther than it first appeared. Eirlys quietly pushed a piece of stone from the rubble and we watch as the whole tower swayed before tilting slightly to the right to reveal a large oak door with the same symbol as the entrance inside.

A deep scowl plastered my face with confusion. I glanced down at my finger which the blood was slowly beginning to clot. Uneasily I placed it on the door quickly and we watch as the door opened and Eirlys finally spoke up.

“Should we go? I mean why would our blood work to open it? Why did it just suddenly come up when we were four and more before or to others?” She eyed the dark staircase in suspicion which was rather unnecessary.

It was not, Endellion! It opened because your blood was needed? How is that not strange?

Well the fact there’s skeletons of humans around isn’t strange enough, Eirlys? Besides, if we hadn’t have gone down there we’d still be clueless to what was going on. Still I pulled you into the entrance despite your unrealistic protests.

I pressed my hand against the wall and watched with amazement as the torches suddenly light up, revealing a large room. All along the walls there were books upon books on shelves, many looking ancient. The room went on for several yards in every direction and was far bigger than it look on the outside which both intrigued and confused me. Standing erect within the library’s center were four large scrolls each of a different but elegant design. One was a vibrant yellow with violet branches dancing along the edge giving it an appealing appearance while the one to the right of it was a dull red with a white rod with a snake spiraled around it.  The one others were a dull black with silver leaves seeming to spiral around the paper and a white one with a gold griffen curled up on its front.

But we notice almost immediately that something else was with us and with a quick step forward I peer behind the scrolls to find a young girl who looked asleep as she clutched a dagger close to her small frame. I leaned forward and shook her shoulder, jumping back as she bolted upright, breathing heavily and her eyes wander the room in search of danger almost instantly.

“Who are you and how did you get here?” She hissed as silver eyes darken with fury and tension.

“My name is Endellion Kastha and we got here by my blood falling on this strange symbol in our room.” I explain swiftly when she swiped her dagger threateningly close to my arm.

Confusion marks her eyes before she springs up and gathers both of us in a tight hug squealing, “Lord Endellion, Lady Eirlys! I’m so glad you’re safe!”

I stiffened at the unknown contact despite the warmth that it gave. I couldn’t understand why she called me Lord or Eirlys Lady but before I can speak she pulls back and eyed the two of us carefully, anger quickly flooded her eyes upon sight of our torn and ragged clothes long since being warm.

“Where do you live?!” She finally sputtered out indignantly while waving her hands at our clothes, voice shrill with disbelief.

“Um, in a cellar of an orphanage?” Eirlys murmured in self conscious tone, shuffling so I was in front of her, looking over at this strange girl with apprehension.

“Orphanage!?” The girl shrieks as she spun around to kick a rock that most likely had been rubble for the ruined city above us.

“Who are you?’ I demanded with more courage than I felt and she turns to face us with a slight scowl making me flinch.

“I’m sorry!” She nearly toppled over the scrolls in her apology before she straightens herself and introduced herself with a warm smile in our direction, “My name is Wrath Destroyar. I am the guardian and guide for the Kastha family and have been for centuries.”

We both stared at her, incredulous. How was that possible I pondered before she pulls from the pocket of her red pants a folded piece of paper which she hands over to us, being rather cautious in the handling of it making me eager to read what it read.

Dearest Endellion and Eirlys,

I have written this letter for Wrath to hand to you when you finally find the buried reminds of our once powerful city in which the Kastha Clan had ruled. Your father at this very moment is weaving protections and other necessary spells that will keep you both hidden from him long enough to learn our ways and grow strong. Now if you’re reading this then we have passed away and Wrath is the only person who can protect you. Shortly before your father’s and my deaths we weaved powerful spells in order to give you the knowledge you would need to succeed. The underground ruins of the old city are hidden from all those not of Kastha blood which will keep the two of you safe while you learn to control what is yours. Study hard and gain the strength to fight off the man responsible which you will learn when you have the power to protect you and those you care for.

Love,

Your mother, Liz Kastha “The Red Whirlpool”

Eirlys and I both gazed over towards the other girl in amazement. I held the letter reverently, afraid if I let it go it would vanish and the only trace of our parents, our mother would suddenly be gone in the air.

Wrath smiles sadly at us, eyes glistened with unshed tears. I suddenly realized that she cared for our parents and possibly us as well. Pulling her in a hug I whispered softly, “They aren’t really gone. We’ll always have them here.” I gestured towards our hearts and watched in surprise as tears fell from Eirlys’s eyes as she hugged Wrath tightly.

Wrath quickly pulled back and murmured under her breath for a few minutes while I look over at a nearby shelf of books about poisons. Just as I turned back to the center she calls to us quietly, “I think it would be best if we rested before starting tomorrow. I can show you around the manor just a few meters away from here.” She offered with a motherly grin.

Too lost in thought to respond I nodded with a small smile. She took our hands and led us through the stairway and into the ruined world once more. Together we made our way through several twists and turns before halting in front of a giant manor which took my breath away.

Despite all the havoc and shambles around it the manor stood tall and without a scratch which is somewhat interesting. But the fox and dragon statue in the entrance doorway shift upon us entering the manor grounds causing me to lean back while Wrath merely smiles slightly in excitement.

I shook my head wearily while stumbling into the house, the two moving statues coiming in after the rest of us. As if she noticed our tiredness she quickly leads us up a large marble staircase. I blindly followed before being ushered into a bedroom where I promptly fell asleep and gripped Eirlys tightly as we drifted off to sleep, not noticing Wrath and the two creatures watching from the doorway with worried eyes.