The Traveler's Journal

By Anthony Derkotch

This is a tale written by The Traveler as he recounts some of his adventures in five overarching short stories. Join him as he tells his story from when he arrived in a new dimension to his inevitable departure from this realm. Follow the mysterious traveler as he wanders this strange land and encounters strange creatures, treacherous people, and powerful new allies. What he will discover and how he will cope in this new place are just some of the mysteries that surround The Traveler.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anthony Derkotch
• Release date: May 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311931191

Book preview

The Traveler's Journal Volume One

By Anthony Derkotch

Copyright 2015 Anthony Derkotch

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Prologue

There are many worlds and dimensions. Some with legendary heroes, some with malicious monsters and entities so unimaginable that basic human imagination has not even come close in any fiction to describing them, while others are civilized and advanced such as modern day Earth or barbaric like The Great Plains of Traya the monster world. Yet despite the variety throughout the worlds and dimensions there is only one Gaia.

Gaia is the most diverse planet/dimension in the universe. However, the specifics are not necessary. The only thing we need to know is that Gaia has a continent in the shape of a circle called The Circle. The land consists of ten countries all of which have their own laws and beliefs, but also have two things in common. They all honor the elements, some countries even worship them. This means that they are all connected to the elements in some shape, way, or form. This brings us to the second thing they have in common Elementists. Every country no matter how small contains at least a few of these people. Elementists are people who can control the elements. Now to truly grasp this you have to understand that an Elementist can control anywhere from one to all ten of the elements in the world. All are powerful, but the most dangerous are the ones who can control one element or all of them. I write this information for context and frankly it has gone on too long, so for purposes of telling the tale we are going to focus on the protagonist of the story, a friend of mine who was a single Elementist who could control lightning.

I suppose before I continue I should also tell you who I am, however, the question in of itself is a complicated matter, so for expediency sake I am known simply as The Traveler. I have existed a long time and have found the secret behind traveling to other dimensions and worlds. These are the facts you need to know and to elaborate on them would take too long and be another tale in of itself, so take of that what you will.

The Crom

My story begins with me walking out of a rift and into a new planet, one I have never heard of before. I would later discover that I had arrived in Southern Wurshell, one of the ten countries of The Circle that existed here on Gaia. This country was unique in its existence as it was the only one of the ten countries that was pure desert. Yet it wasn't an uninhabitable desert as there were many oasis and settlements throughout. It was actually quite pleasing to the eye. Yet the heat was that of a normal desert and I, sweating profusely, so much so that I had to change clothing. I was currently wearing heavy snow gear as my previous destination was little more than a tundra, which obviously was unfit for such a hot environment. So I took off my back pack, which has become my lifeline. As a constant traveler I have no home, so everything I own is in this pack. Luckily for me I have visited many worlds, some with very powerful magic's. One in particular enchanted my bag to hold much more than a simple bag could hold. It can't hold anything that would not naturally fit in it, but it works for my needs. I unzipped the black bag and pulled out a brown cloak and battered cowboy hat that my father had given me, while putting away the heavy snow gear. As I was doing this I heard a large monstrous growl come from over one of the sand dunes. I quickly threw the cloak on over the black tee-shirt and blue jeans that I still had on. I then proceeded to lift the hood over my head and place my pack back on my back and proceeded forward. As I climbed up the golden sand I placed my hat on as well to help block the wind that was now blowing wildly. Another growl echoed throughout the valley and I felt for my guns that hung in their holsters at my sides. As I reassured myself they were still there an even louder growl echoed followed by a sudden sound of thunder. This caused me to draw my six shooter, a Colt Single Action Army given to me by a famous general. I made sure it was loaded and then drew my other gun, which was a single shot percussion pistol. This one I didn't check to make sure it was loaded. All I did was cock the hammer and held it at the ready. You see this gun was different, it didn't fire bullets. It fired dark energy blasts of magic. Apparently an ancient entity of pure magic was sealed in this gun a long time ago, this of course is all rumors and speculation. All I know is that it had to be some kind of fate that this gun fell into my hands, because I received it under very strange circumstances, which I will not get into now. For now all that needs to be known is that it is powerful, so whatever was over this dune would have a hard fight ahead it if that's what it was looking for.

I reached the top of the dune and the whole scene changed. The once golden sand was now red as far as the eye can see and the intrigue of a civilized desert was replace with the desolation true deserts were known for. Yet the abrupt change was overshadowed by an unbelievable sight. A giant beast something of a cross between a Minotaur and an elephant comprised completely of fire was battling with a man half its size that seem to be able to summon lightning bolts at will. The beast had a trunk with tusks and was howling in pain with every lightning strike. The rest of the beast was that of a Minotaur only made of fire and it had an ax made of the same, which it was swinging at the man. Luckily for him he was very agile and was able to doge the clumsy swings of the massive beast and though he seemed to be handling himself rather well I figured I should lend him a hand. I started down the dune when the ground started to shake and a giant rose from the ground. The man seemed to know what had happened and dodged an ax swing while summoning a lightning bolt to strike the rising beast. Unfortunately for him the beast was some sort of stone giant, so lightning was useless against it. The man seemed to panic at the moment and was almost decapitated by the fire beast's fire ax. He dropped to the ground just in time to keep his head, but had no choice but to crawl into a ball as the giant attempted to crush him with his giant fist. Again the man was lucky, because I had gotten into to range and shot my magic gun. A small black ball of pure magic fired from the gun and exploded on the giant's hand obliterating it to nothing. The giant stumbled backwards crying in agony as it toppled over onto its back.

The fire beast was stunned by the explosion, but as the giant fell over the beast turned its attention towards me and howled in rage. It stomped its hoofed feet leaving scorched holes where it stood and then rushed me with its ax raised. I raised my gun and aimed it at the beast's head, but before the beast was in range a lightning bolt struck the beast in the nose causing it to turn abruptly right into the man who was driving what appeared to be a sword comprised of lightning into to beast's eye. Fire burned and scorched the man as the beast and he both screamed in rage and agony. After a moment the man's sword exploded and the beast let out its death rattle and toppled over fizzling into nothingness before hitting the ground. The man himself fell to the ground on all fours with smoke sizzling off of him. While this was happening the stone giant had made its way to a sitting position. I didn't even look at it as I walked over and fired my magic gun killing the giant instantly as its head exploded into darkness. I kept my eyes on the man however. I holstered my magic gun and pulled my revolver out and cocked the hammer back. I cautiously approached the man with my gun pointed at his head.

Are you friendly? I asked softly as not to antagonize him. He looked weakened, but any man who can control something as powerful as an element should be feared.

Are you? he asked out of breath.

I helped you, did I not? I asked with my finger ready to pull the trigger.

He turned his head to me revealing his eyes, which were pure yellow and looked like lightning, That doesn't mean you don't intend to finish what those monsters had started, he said unflinching. I un-cocked and holstered my gun. I then proceeded to take off the brown cloak and held it out to him. He stared at me uncertain. What am I supposed to do with that?

Whatever you wish, but I figured your clothes are burnt to shreds and you may like something to protect your skin from the sun.

He made his way to his knees and took the cloak, Thank you.

You're welcome, I said as I placed my hat back on my head. It was in an instant that we were surrounded. I never even saw them coming as dozens of men dressed in red rags raised from the sands pointing spears at us. I did manage to draw my revolver, but the man I had helped had his hands in the air. What are you doing? I asked preparing for a fight.

Okay, you take the thirty on the right and I'll take the thirty on the left. Whoever gets finished first can take the other sixty.

Yeah I noticed were outnumbered.

Just a bit.

So what do you suggest, we just give up? I asked as the men cautiously came closer around us.

If The Crom wanted us dead they would have already killed us.

The Crom? He gestured at our captors and I responded with, You mean the sand people?

No there's no such thing, only sand monsters further in the desert.

I shook my head, Never mind.

The Crom had us completely encircled now, there was no escape.

Put your weapon down, there's no point in resisting.

I holstered my gun and the next thing I knew the blunt end of a spear was hitting me in the back of the head knocking me unconscious.

I was awoken sometime later by the man, Hey, wake up, he was yelling in a whisper.

I sat up holding the back of my head, That was a great plan.

You're alive aren't you? he said as he looked around.

Yeah, to what end?

They want us to dig for water, he said still looking from side to side to see if anybody was coming.

What? I asked my head hurting and confused.

They live underground, this whole desert used to be one giant lake except for two land masses separating it from the ocean.

I sort of understood what he was talking about, but it didn't make me feel better, So they get prisoners to dig for fresh water. How does that help us?

It doesn't, you asked. What we need to do is get out of here.

Simple enough. I reached down for my gun, but it was gone. In a panic I went for my pack, which was also gone. No, no, no, no, no. Where is my stuff?

Calm down, they are not stupid. They took your weapons and pack.

No! I need them! I yelled in a whisper.

Too bad, I don't know if you noticed, but were kind of trapped.

In a panicked frenzy I grabbed the man and pulled him through the