Mana in the Modern World non illustrated version (32 page)

***

Recently the UK has a resurgence of unrest
over Irelands wanting independence. A sudden rash of rumors that
random people but mostly Police being changed into various animals.
This has the citizens and even the underworld of London in a state
of near panic. Yesterday Two IMS Agents, Velma being one of them,
were among those changed but they managed to stay together and make
it back to the IMS office.

There an emergency call was made to Hiy-u who
quickly arrived. He and two other agents were able to restore them
to human form. Velma is reported to be very ‘vexed’! Especially as
she lost an outfit she had recently bought! They reported that they
encountered someone with a very strong Aura but were tasered from
behind before they could react. They woke up to find they were
piglets. It is unknown if the Warlock knew they were IMS but it is
likely someone knew and he was sending either a warning, challenge
or both.

Caution:
it is requested that agents
no longer carry their Grimoire except when truly necessary. Luckily
neither Velma or Harold had their Grimoire with them when attacked.
Upper management is concerned by the possibility of Warlocks
obtaining access to IMS spells.

Hiy-u believes this is Juneau, somehow
returned from; well.... from wherever he went when Aiguo thought he
had destroyed him at Stonehenge. It has been decided by the highest
levels in all the countries with IMS that it is imperative this
Warlock be stopped; by any means necessary. Therefore a list of
volunteer agents is being compiled. Those agents selected will join
in a multinational task force of Mages and other personnel in
England to find and permanently stop this Warlock.

BTW - my name is first on the list.

As all know I have for some time been
attempting to understand those fragments of Atlantean’s speech
found in some clear crystals but with slow progress. However Hiy-u
has noticed an increase in my understanding of the printed material
on the tablets. He believes my ability to decipher the written
language on the tablets and spoken fragments in the crystals has
been increased somewhat by the Mana getting stronger. I do feel
that some data seems now to flow into my understanding at a less
‘painful’ pace.

Three days ago the first almost fully
recorded crystals with still intact recordings arrived. They were
found on the island of Cyprus. Below is how they were found and
what astounding information I was able to understand from one
crystal. It is a small amount but noteworthy data. I believe the
punishment mentioned, in reference to the crown, is the
transferring of minds. The crown was recently reported stolen.

Moreover Hiy-u and I are quite concerned in
light of recent events and theft what may happen should the
Warlock, apparently now back in England, managed to steal the crown
mentioned. Especially if he learns to use the crown’s ability.

Some months ago Sir Arthur Frances and wife
Lady Elizabeth, both amateur Archeologists and Anthropologist, were
exploring the hills well above Seagull View Villa when a small
earthquake uncovered a burial cave. Exploring the cave they were
amazed to find three largely intact skeletons. Lady Elizabeth, the
Anthropologist of the couple, quickly realized the two skeletons
were male and female.

The third appeared to be that of an intact
large Sabertooth Tiger with black fangs laying at the male’s side.
The male’s arm laid across the tiger with hand on its head.

The female has an elongated skull while the
male’s elongated skull was not as pronounced.

The female was about 4 feet tall and the male
about 4’3”.

A badly faded illustration of the male was
found and is hoped to be at least somewhat restored.

A disintegrating leather pouch contained a
crown with a single red stone with sparkles, many gems, jewelry and
strange coins. Also in the pouch was a faded drawing of a man
alongside an animal that appeared to be a Sabertooth and his hand
resting on the animals head.

One small pouch somehow survived without sign
of rot.

Inside the small pouch were two clear
crystals, a cloudy crystal and a black onyx ring in the shape of
fangs.

The ring looks to be sized for the man and he
appears to be wearing the ring in the painting but is hard to be
sure.

Carbon dating has placed the age of the three
skeletons and parchment at 10,122 BC plus or minus 250 years.

The female’s DNA showed approximately 60%
human with the rest unknown.

The male’s DNA showed approximately 80% human
and the rest also unknown.

***

Here is what I managed to decipher from one
of the two clear crystals found on Cyprus and sent me along with
the onyx ring and the females small pouch. The second clear crystal
had no recordings that I could find. Hiy-u discovered the pouch was
spelled with a ‘space’. So far the only thing he has been able to
retrieve from within it is a painting of a man with a sabertooth
tiger. The painting material is brittle and looked to be weathered.
Before being put into the space it must have been exposed to the
elements at one time and has curled. A photo was taken but due to
the brittle nature of the painting the photo was taken with only a
minimum at attempting to flatten the painting as it cracked and
almost broke. Below my narrative is a copy of digital image
taken.

Note that I had to infer some words from the
recording in order to fill in areas where I could not comprehend a
word’s exact meaning. Otherwise this would tend toward incomplete
sentences so please bear with me. I will try to render it as
verbatim as possible but will have to fill in for words I do not
understand but use ones that ‘feel’ are correct. As yet the
language is quite difficult to fully comprehend:

**

Eons ago our people fled across the realms to
this world only now to have the ones here that we helped rise up
above what they were now to plot to take what we possess. Somehow,
and I will not speak their treacherous name, they found out that
the fire beams of Poseidon’s crystal could only be controlled by
our Priestesses. We wizards only make and control beasts and the
ultimate punishment. Somehow they killed all but four of the
Priestesses trained to control the crystal in addition to healing.
Now the crystal daily becomes more unstable. The molten fires below
Poseidon’s crystal steadily grow making control very difficult and
exhausting. It is impossible for the few remaining Priestesses to
fully control. We fear that within days his crystal will explode.
It has been decided that our population must flee taking what
knowledge and goods we can. Most will flee westerly in our navy. My
consort, the High Priestess, believes once the three remaining
Priestess leave, she alone can control the fires long enough for
most to escape. I, a beast master and high judge, intend to place a
fly spells on us and go east as we will be among the last to flee.
Once we leave she believes we may have a day, possibly as many as
three before the explosion. I cannot bring myself to destroy the
last crown of punishment as it also may save our lives when we must
land to rest. The speed of my new fly spell should, should, get us
far enough so when Poseidon’s crystal explodes we can survive. The
world will shake mightily. All we know and love will end, possibly
this realm as well.

***

Pic here of the man and tiger on
parchment.

***

Hopefully you have enjoyed this, my first
novel.

I proudly lay claim to all mistakes in this
novel!

I also am publishing this as an illustrated
novel with Smashwords; with any luck at the same time; or soon
after; as this non-illustrated one although at slightly higher cost
(models are expensive).

I am also open to scenarios / ideas for the
second book to fight Juneau and confront Pinyin.

The book is now in work..........

Any ideas / images used will have your name
mentioned in the credits on the book’s end - possibly your name
and/or description used in the action narrative?