PHANTASIA (21 page)

Chapter 9: The Strange Doctor

The principal features of the raeth wing of the Empyrean Alcazar, the only section of the royal home that Red had seen so far, were long winding passageways replete with hundreds of portraits of previous Basil’s, a rustic architecture which Magnus had explained was a result of the section’s age (the raeth wing was one of the first parts of the Alcazar to be built), and strange looking critters that hung around freely in various parts of the palace as if it were home to them too. A palace keeper that noticed Red’s curious glances commented that the presence of the critters was a result of Prince Arkan Basil’s fascination with rare and unusual creatures.
So this is where Magnus gets it from
Red laughed to himself. There was never an empty hallway, the entire Alcazar seemed to be thriving with activity — everyone in high anticipation of tomorrow’s presentation. For Red, the multitude of other royal families that lived in the Alcazar shed light on the scale of Areopa’s governing body, and how far the kingdom stretched.
 

From the outside, the Alcazar looked like a collection of palaces built on top of a bed of clouds with a vast and peculiar vacuum of space situated in the center. S had asked Magnus what the space was designated for, to which he cryptically replied, “you’ll see,” leaving them all with the thrill of a mystery.
 
Red noticed that the architecture of the Alcazar looked even more archaic than the rest of Areopa, instilling its inhabitants with a sense of tradition and heritage. Stone walls and timeworn bastions replaced the sleek and innovative designs he had come to expect in modern cities.
 

Flying within the vicinity of the Alcazar, but especially around the courtyard ponds that were built inside of clouds, were dozens of Ozone Raptors, or Ozes as everyone in Areopa referred to them. Ozes were tall, bird-like critters with rudimentary wings, chubby frames, and arms that were so tiny Red could not imagine what they were used for. Despite their bulky shapes, the agile creatures were capable of flying at near super sonic speeds if they were free of weight, and were both extremely intelligent and very playful. Oz’ were the designated carriers for the nobility of Areopa and were trained never to break a leisurely speed limit — a restriction that resulted in a drawling commute whenever one was mounted.

As the five of them walked to their room in the raeth wing, a critter that looked like an oversized skull with tentacles dropped from the ceiling above them with a loud plop and began crawling behind Linx. The Aeyz Cat eyed its new admirer suspiciously while circling around Butz to hide himself. “I’d hate to see what this thing would like at a higher stage,” Red gulped. After a soft squeal that sounded like a cry, the creature slugged its body away from them, seemingly deterred by Linx’s eschewal.

“At least none of the creature’s here are that big,” S commented, just as a heart wrenching roar came from somewhere deep within the palace.
 

“Yah… I’m not so sure about that,” Butz gasped.
 

“We’re almost there,” Magnus chuckled as they passed by a room that looked to be a mix between a kitchen and a makeshift office. Red peaked inside to see six solemn figures, clad in white robes, discussing something vigorously. He heard the words “Xenosite,” and “Cron,” but couldn’t pick up on anything else despite straining to hear more. When they saw him, one of the figures quickly got up to close the door of the room. A second before the door slammed shut in front of him, he caught the face of the figure. She was a girl about his age, and quite beautiful he thought, in a very bare and ordinate sort of way.
 

“Priori of Light. They don’t like others hearing about their business,” Magnus conferred.

“Probably not a good idea to eaves drop on people anyways,” S replied.
 

“Well, speaking behind closed doors doesn’t sound like a good way of gaining popularity in the Alcazar, if that’s what they’re aiming for,” Raven chided.
 

“They’re not very popular here anyways. Known to be fanatics about their beliefs. Areopa is a freedom loving place, not a city to be steered by dogma. We’ll have to see at tomorrow’s presentation what they’re here for,” Magnus replied. “I reckon something about uniting different kingdoms and people in the fight against the Xenosite, which wouldn’t be so bad I guess. But if it was under their own banner, I’m sure they’d abuse their influence. They’ve been known to do it before.”
 

A stench that Red imagined must have been the putrid flavor of an evaporated corpse suddenly filled the air as they were walking towards their room. Its onset was so unusually sudden and powerful that he thought had he pinched his nose a second later, it may have been too late and he would have passed out from its breach.
 

“It’s coming from there,” Butz choked as he held in his breath. He pointed to a room with an oversized red door that was neatly lined with columns of belted spikes, akin to the entrance of a castle dungeon as Red would imagine. The door stood slightly ajar as green fumes poured out of its opening — slowly drifting into the open air of the palace like a noxious cloud.

“Ugh…what is that…” Magnus groaned as he looked around for help. There was no one in this hallway, an usual occurrence Red realized. Almost every other palace corridor he had passed was manned by at least a single guard or keeper. He assumed it must have been the smell, although whoever was responsible might have sent away the keeper
before
beginning their assault on the hallway’s air. Magnus walked up to the open door and studied its columns of spikes with a curious glance before knocking quietly on an empty patch.
 

“Oh…I think I know who’s responsible for this,” he croaked while cautiously opening the door. There was no response from the inside after his knocking, although the sound of a muffled voice could be heard, and the soft rustle of activity. The room was pitch black as the five of them slipped in, tiptoeing inside as if the entrance may have been laced with traps. S used a tiny light cast to illuminate the space around them. A heavy grunt marked the presence of another creature. Turning to his right, Red saw a giant hairy monster that looked like a beast-born man. From the body of the critter he could see green fumes evaporating into the air. But inexplicably, after he stepped inside of the room, the deathly smell was gone, and replaced by a sweet, nectar-like aroma. He let go of his pinched nose to take a waft of the air but a voice came from the darkness that stopped him.

“One sniff, certain death,” it said. The voice of a young man, speaking in an astute tone, the way Red imagined proverbs were always told. It sounded sharp and intelligent, but with a hint of madness — the voice of a mind blighted with narcotic realism.
 

“Uncle?”
 

“The Muskurasque is a simian critter extremely sensitive about its body odor. The sweet aroma is an illusion. To the human nose, the smell is consistently different, depending on the space between your nose and the Muskurasque. An enticing mystery of the natural world that has yet to be solved. It does not understand why you are pinching your nose, but sniff it, and it shall recognize your gesture as an affront to its aroma, and react with extreme aggression. The stage 4 you see in front of you can pound its arms into the floor with the force of a hundred tons, squashing the fire elementalist who thinks he is not a fire elementalist next to you in a single display of force.”
 

“You know of us?” Red asked in wonder.
 

“Know? I merely observed. Imperial grade heat absorbing wrist bands to protect the rest of your gear, which happens to be grade three and
not
heat resistant, but rather, suited for melee combat — a rather profound effort in pretending
not
to be a fire elementalist for someone who takes the precaution of enabling themselves for such a high level of fire casts,
don’t you think?”
 
 

 
Red looked down at his wristbands, uncertain of how to reply. The observation was correct, but he found it too hard to believe that someone had made the deduction so quickly and so easily. The Muskurasque let out another grunt and stared at the five of them, as if daring them to take a sniff of his body. Red stepped back from the creature, carefully breathing through his mouth to make sure it didn’t’ think he was sniffing him.

“Uncle, these are my friends from Crest Academy.”
 

“Ahh yes, yes, you’ve mentioned them before I believe. I’ve heard much about Crest Academy since you’ve enrolled, I made a good decision by recommending it for you. I see it’s good enough to attract people from Takis and Karth as well,” the voice replied.
 

Raven seemed a bit taken aback, uncomfortable at the idea of being scrutinized, Red imagined.

“Come now Mongo, I must see you in the light, it has been a full year, no? I am familiar with many of your professors at Crest, they have told me good things.”
 

A number of candles a short distance ahead of them lit up, illuminating the presence of a shirtless man with blue insects crawling all over his upper body.
 

“Crystal Sleet Spiders!” Magnus nearly shouted.
 

“Shhhhhhh. I must advise you not to increase your volume beyond that of a whisper. If provoked, these spiders may bite me all at once, leading to a severe paralysis of the brain.”
 

“But Uncle… they may bite you anyways.”
 

“They already have in fact. Eighteen times to be precise. But do not worry, I have been spacing out the bites evenly.”
 

“Eighteen?!” This time it was Butz who spoke up. “But you must be… drugged out of your mind.”

“Dear man, are you a detective of sorts?” The voice asked. Butz stood speechless, possibly too shocked from being on the other side of a sarcastic remark Red imagined. He heard S snort with laughter from behind him.
 

“I prefer the term ‘of an alternate state of mind,’” the voice continued, “But yes, I see what you are saying. I suppose I
am
seeing reality slightly different than the way all of you are. Mongo, you’ve grown in a year. Stronger I see. And more scarred — the way the body of a king
should
look. Your mallet has served you well in your victories. The bite on your neck, River Harpie? And by the tiny cut on your friends fingertip — you’ve come across an Emerald Thornback?”

“Mmhmm,” Magnus smiled. “All correct as always Uncle,” he added, in a tone that suggested a deep fondness. Red was impressed by how observant Magnus’ uncle was, imagining the quality must have been super natural in some way. He couldn’t, however, understand why he kept calling Magnus ‘Mongo,’ or why a nickname would be given that sounded so similar.
   

“Are you Prince Arkan?” Butz asked sheepishly.
 

“I am indeed. However, I must request that you keep my identity a secret. I have many enemies you know,” Prince Arkan replied fastidiously. “One can never be too careful nowadays, even around family.”
But everyone in the palace must know who you are,
Red thought to himself. Butz nodded uncertainly at Prince Arkan’s bizarre request, while glancing at Magnus, who raised his eyebrows as if to say
I told you so.

“What are all of your names?” The prince asked. They each introduced themselves one by one, and gave a short, curt bow, unsure of how royalty was to be approached in Areopa.
 

A loud growl came from within the darkness of the room, revealing the presence of other creatures besides the Muskurasque. “Do not be alarmed, they are only Wyrms,” Prince Arkan replied, referring to the winged beasts that were similar to dragons. It was theorized that dragons had evolved their sentient forms from Wyrms themselves, who were far more aggressive and undomesticated creatures. Red’s experience in the Alcazar was getting stranger every passing moment. If the room was big enough to fit a Wyrm, or several of them as Prince Arkan suggested, they must have just entered an enormous chamber of sorts — its size hidden by the darkness.
How in the world does he have trained Wyrms in here? Is it even possible to train them?
Red wondered.
 

Linx approached Arkan with stuttering steps, eventually deciding to settle down next to him as the prince stroked the back of the Aeyz Cat. The motion was so natural, it seemed as though the two had known each other for years.
 

“I’ve never seen him so comfortable around a stranger before,” Butz admitted. “You must have raised an Aeyz Cat before?”
 

“Never raised one, although I’ve seen my fair share of them,” Prince Arkan replied. “Your room is down the hall I believe, allow me a few minutes to relieve myself of these spiders and I shall meet you there. I would like to hear your tale of the Emerald Thornback, and more about all of your friends. Especially from this one — by your age I’d say you must have come to Avalonia
after
the invasion?”
 

Raven nodded hesitantly, caught off guard at being addressed directly.
 

“Yes, you have the look of lost hope, the one so common in everyone who has been through an invasion. An excellent topic for conversation, the subject of the Xenosite has been on my mind recently, I would be thrilled to hear more about them. You will find food ready at your room, I have already directed the keeper to stock your favorites, Mongo. Ahh, and I believe congratulations are in order? It almost slipped my mind — you must have performed extraordinarily on your field test to have made it to the qualifiers for WEAPON. Dare I admit I had my doubts?”
 

“Thank you uncle,” Magnus smiled. “Don’t worry, I had my doubts as well.”
 
As they left the room with Linx in tow, the Muskurasque grunted one last time and clapped its hands in a celebratory fashion. Despite how strange Prince Arkan had seemed, Red was sure he very much liked Magnus’ uncle. In just a few short moments, he was convinced that he had just met the most interesting man on Avalonia.