The Halls of Illusions: Emergence of the Disciplined, #1

By Joseph D Lemon

Hell is not simply a place, but realms upon realms. It lives, it breaths, and its hunger consumes. An odd bunch are tricked into entering the halls. Nothing they heard is true at all. The only hope they have of escaping the endless realms of hell is each other, 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph D Lemon
• Release date: Mar 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393116981

Book preview

2 Samantha Krille

Samantha Krille walked through the woods with a feeling of indifference, being expelled from her homeland just because she was beautiful was wrong in her opinion. Sam grew up in a hidden Elvin city about twenty miles from the city of Barrith. Her long sword swung at her side. Sam walked slowly through the densely covered wood. Briar patches covered most of the area, and the elves used this as a deterrent for everyone, who would want to walk through them anyway. The trees were thickly covered in summer leaves making the woods very cool for this time of the year. The sounds of the woods were like a hymn to her, her Elvin ears picked up on every bit of the sound that was made, and she loved it. The wind was calm today, but Sam didn't care her mind was too occupied with what had just happened to her.

Samantha Krille had been born over a hundred and twenty years ago outside a small Elvin village deep in the Barrith Forest. The high mother of the nearby Elvin village was walking through the forest while walking she stumbled upon an unknown Elvin maiden with a small Elvin child lying beside her wrapped in vines and leaves. Great care was taken to hide the child swaddled in a blanket that did not seem typical for elves. Unlike the earth tones accustomed to them, this blanket was very intricate and fashioned of many bright wonderful colors. The maiden's body lay still littered with scorch marks and burns with the letters DN engraved in her forehead. The mother bent down lightly touching the maiden on her right arm, her skin was soft and smooth, as a newborn baby. She spent a few moments inspecting the child, finding nothing wrong with her. The high mother glanced over to the woman who she suspected was the baby's mother. She began to move her hands over her checking to see if her soul had moved on or not. The burns on her face were extensive covering ninety percent of her face. The high mother moved on further checking the baby's mother, finding that her body was also burned, but strangely, her garments were not. After about ten minutes of inspection, she concluded that the soul had moved on to the next world and that this child was now alone in this world. Time was now not on hers or the high mother's side. Knowing what she had to do if this child was to survive, she turned back around and picked up the baby in her arms and began her short trip back to her village. It took very little time for the high mother to arrive back at her village, upon entering the village everyone circled the mother, questions rapidly became the only thing that she could hear, and she could not answer them fast enough. Pushing through the swarm of elves that surrounded her, the mother quickly moved to the small altar of Quilandria to receive a blessing from the goddess and hope of health for the child. The mother laid the child on the ground before the altar; and dropped to her knees. O' mighty goddess I ask that you bless this child whom I have found with everything that she will need in life. The goddess arrived immediately. This caught the crowd completely off guard. They were all well versed in praying to the goddess. Never had she actually appeared, and in so sudden a manner it was completely unthinkable. The goddess stood over seven feet tall, with beauty beyond that of a thousand nymphs. Her raven black hair was so fine that you could sew with it. Her skin was as blue as the deepest depths of the ocean, while her cobalt blue eyes we so majestic you would want to trade diamonds for them. She stood above the small child with a smile for all to love. She stood up for only a few seconds before she knelt and put her hand on the child's head. Her blue lips parted and began to speak, and when she did, it was as if a chorus of robins began to sing. To you my young one I give you the gifts of beauty and prowess with blades; few will be able to match your skill. The goddess stood and looked to all and began to speak once again, This child's future is set, train her well for she will need it in the long road that she is to walk, with one who's heart is true, his mind is made of steel, and his will unbreakable, farewell.

Quilandria had vanished in a flash, and now it was time to take up her mantle and become something she had never done, bending down she placed the child in her arms and began to walk to her home, their home. They were a family, the three of them, Sam, the high mother and her husband; Valen. The moment she had picked up the child, the high mother knew what path lay before her, the path of a mother and a mentor.

She opened the front door and called to him, announcing her arrival home. Valen stepped forward and looked at her with complete shock. Lynn, what is that? Please listen, I found the child lying next to a dead Elvin maiden in the forest. I brought the child back to the village and prayed for Quilandria to come and bless the child. Valen nodded his head, I understand. Valen reached out and took the child into his arms. Her soft skin lightly rubbed against his as he moved her across to cradle