| |
Lazarus and the Alphas Mages stood next to him.
Shannol stood behind them with her sword out. She watched over them while they cast their spell. Lazarus wanted to see how this would be different with his new-found magical skills.
"Okay," Lazarus said, "I'm ready. Give me your magic."
They closed their eyes. He saw tendrils of power coming from each of them and striking him. Each of the tendrils of powers were different in shape and color; Cindy’s was a large blue wave of colors, Grace’s was a vaporous brown tendril, and Royce's magic was large and the color of green mixed with sepia brown. Their combined magic hit him. Yet, this time was different. Before, when they gave him their magic, he felt like he was being filled like a glass with water. Now, their combined magic barely even filled his well of power.
Cindy looked at him with alarm. She noticed the difference. Lazarus also felt something else. He wanted to tap their magic from them, as if he was a vampire. It was enticing and seductive. Lazarus couldn't help it. He started to siphon more of their power. The Alpha Mages strained.
Grace said, "Lazarus!"
Lazarus stopped taking their magic. He knew he was taking too much and would kill them if he kept siphoning their power.
"Okay, I'm sorry," he said.
Royce, Grace and Cindy all fell to the ground at the same time. They were exhausted.
Lazarus placed his hand upwards and touched the magical barrier. He sensed a magical being was casting this spell. "Hello, my name is Lazarus Venti. Please speak to me."
A wave of power struck him, but he stood, rooted in his place. He was not thrown backwards like before.
A voice that sounded like it came from the depths of the dead, said, "Who dares come to the gates of the Blessed Isles? And you're still alive."
"My mission is to find Merlin, and take him back with us," Lazarus said.
"It is forbidden. You cannot enter the Blessed Isles unless you're dead," the voice said.
"No exceptions?" he asked.
"There are no exceptions."
"Then why is Merlin there when he is not dead. He should be with us," Lazarus exclaimed. He didn't know he’d have to argue with this person.
"He is an anomaly. I didn't understand," the voice said, "but nonetheless he is in the Blessed Isles and cannot leave."
Lazarus spoke again "I can go inside. I have the power."
"No, you cannot. I will not let you."
Lazarus moved closer to the barrier.
Cindy said, "Lazarus, don't go without us."
"I have to go," he said.
Royce tried to stand but fell back down. Cindy stared at him and for a split-second Lazarus wanted to help her to her feet.
"We have to do this together," she said.
Lazarus looked at all the Alpha Mages and saw all their magical powers and potential. And he realized he was the only person who had enough strength to get into the Blessed Isles. Merlin meant for him to go all the way to find him.
Lazarus didn't need them. The realization hit him, and he almost felt like he couldn't do it, but he said, "Cindy, I was meant to go to the Blessed Isles. If you don't hear from me for a day, get out of here and get back to Earth."
Cindy shook her head. She also tried to stand but she clasped her head in pain and fell back down.
He thought he needed Merlin's amulet but that was not the case. His magic was all he needed. Lazarus turned away from them and placed his hand on the magical barrier. He focused his power and knew what to do. The magical barrier disappeared and he walked through.
He walked toward the rocks and dirt covering his pathway. The cave-in was recent. Whole chunks of earth and stones had fallen and blocked his way.
He approached the blockage and saw the magical signatures of Earth power. A Mage created this cave in. Lazarus instantly thought of the orc wizard, Bruen, but he thought this couldn't be him because Lazarus would have felt him close by.
He placed his hand on the first stone and saw the pathway before him change and simmer. The stones and debris melted away in front him, and Lazarus heard Cindy and the others gasp with astonishment. But Lazarus knew the next magical spell he conjured would also make them gasp.
Lazarus waved his hand, and a portal appeared before him. It was circular, with white light appearing in its center. He stepped inside, and suddenly he was gone.
The reason he knew how to create all these spells was simple. Merlin planted these conjurings in his mind. It was his key into the Blessed Isles.
He stepped out of the portal and stood before a large gothic doorway. Instantly, two large stone knights attacked him. These were the guardians he saw in his dream, and he also saw a large stone statue at the waterway. He seemed to recall his dreams in clarity. It was all so easy.
Lazarus flew backward. The first stone knight on his right held a large double-sided axe and it swung at him with all the knight’s fury. It missed him by inches, but Lazarus felt the whistle and velocity of the weapon passing by him. The other knight jumped at him with his large double-edge sword stabbing at him. Lazarus flew upwards and shot large lightning bolts at him. The spell appeared from the ceiling of the large cavern and struck against the knight's sword.
The stone knight shrugged off his spell and launched a huge spiked mace at him. It flew through the air with the speed of a missile. But Lazarus knew what he was doing. It was scary how well he knew what to do. Before the mace struck him, Lazarus disappeared and appeared again behind the stone guardians.
The knights roared, and turned to him. But Lazarus was too fast. He touched the large doorway and he was transported inside. The knights tried to attack him but they couldn't enter the Blessed Isles, merely guard it. They went back to their places again and waited.
