Legends of Earth: Age of the Zodiac

By E. Nigma

Thousands of years had passed since man's patriarch, Adam, died. With his departure, humankind falls into a state of feuding tribes, competing for power and resources.

As their communities developed, it attracted the envious meddling of their arch-nemesis, Azazeel, a condemned demon vowing to dedicate his life's purpose to destroying man.

However, his goals are blocked by the Zodiac Guardians, an enhanced species, fashioned from the earth during the jinn's epic wars.

Striving to release his army, Azazeel patiently devised tactics to manipulate the Zodiacs into his evil slithering.

Concealed in the shadows, he stealthy convinced the Guardians to enslave humanity as their devoted worshippers.

As a result, four realms, powered by separate elements, were founded; earth, water, air and fire, but with the peace dwindling, a new threat began to rise.

With mankind subdued, Azazeel quickly shifted his attention to sowing the seeds of division between the united Guardians.

Fed by greed, deception, and power, the earth unveils the grand tale of twelve creatures, their race for global domination, and the permanent imprint they left on the human race...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Sep 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9780228833970

Book preview

Legends of Earth

Age of the Zodiac

E. Nigma

Legends of Earth

Copyright © 2021 by E. Nigma

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-3398-7 (Hardcover)

978-0-2288-3361-1 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-3397-0 (eBook)

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Preface

Aforetime before man, other creatures called the Insa preceded into existence. They governed over the Earth and established extraordinary and splendid civilizations that matched the wonders of today.

Some possessed the bodies of humans and the heads of beasts, while others took the configuration of various other creatures combined.

Over time, they fell prey to their ambitions. In their pursuit of power, they annihilated each other, much of the Earth, and the beasts that roamed it. After many years of wreaking havoc and chaos, the Earth protested to God, asking for intervention. God answered its prayer and created a new species to challenge them and eventually inherit the world. They were named the Jinn or the Unseen Ones, and they were made from flames of fire. They had various endowments that proved to be impregnable for the Insa. It was not long before the Jinn either destroyed or expelled the Insa from the Earth.

Unlike all the other creatures that remained, the Jinn had free will to choose their path and had powers to accomplish stunning feats of construction. Some could fly, while others could take the shape of various creatures. As the years passed, and their numbers grew, they, too, mirrored the actions of those who came before them. Given their fiery makeup, they were fiercely and foolishly ambitious. Many of them lost the notion of revering God and began to thirst for power and glory. Year after year, their wars became more epic and destructive to the Earth and all its inhabitants. Finally, to quell their savagery, God ennobled one from amongst them. His name was Azazeel, and he revered and glorified God.

Azazeel had one specific duty; to punish the Jinn for any mischief they caused. To carry out this task, he was granted sovereignty over them. As the years grew, Azazeel reestablished order among the Jinn. Apprehensively, they recognized him as their king. He ruled them sternly and justly, and for his efforts, God compensated him with access to the heavens, as well as exceptional beauty that some likened to that of angels.

Gradually, because of his burgeoning power, Azazeel became prideful and arrogant, which would eventually mark him as one of the forsaken and doomed. It all originated with the creation of a new free-willed species called humans, who would co-exist with the Jinn but in separate realms. Although the Jinn were powerful, humans were given higher knowledge. Their intelligence gave them the ability to harness the Earth’s energy and resources and create power and remarkable accomplishments from it. However, aside from their intellect, they had detrimental flaws; their heedlessness and unquenchable desire for power and wealth, and particularly youthfulness.

When God created humans, He ordered one of his angels to descend from the heavens and gather clay from all corners of the Earth. The angel returned with various types of clay, and God fashioned them into the shape of a man. The sculpture towered sixty feet high and remained in that state for many years, and when it was time, God breathed life into it.

God’s angels curiously assembled around the sculpture. With admiration and amazement, they watched the birth of a new creation. The statue was a beautiful male specimen. Suddenly, he sneezed, and his life began, and he became known as Adam. The angels showed their reverence for him, that is, all except Azazeel. He was consumed with encroaching jealousy and perceived Adam as unequal and insignificant, and coveted no goodwill toward him.

God then commanded the angels to prostrate before Adam. They did so in willing obedience, without hesitation. However, Azazeel remained resolute in his defiance and refused, arrogantly declaring that he, fashioned out of flames, could not bow to an inferior creature originating from dust. Angered by his blatant fallacious disobedience, God condemned him to eternal damnation and declared him banished from His grace, consequently, branding him as Iblees, the outcast. Iblees beseeched God to delay his doom until judgment day, assuring to prove that His new creation—man—would not worship him. As a reward for his years of devotion, God munificently accepted Iblees’s supplication and prolonged his demise until the final hour.

Humiliated and disgraced, Iblees returned to Earth with a new sinister agenda. Although he was no longer the master of the Jinn, many were still loyal to him. He ordered them to create mischief and destruction throughout the planet, causing the Earth to fall back into a dismal condition. The Jinn contaminated its water, burned its lush forests, and polluted its clear air, wreaking mayhem and destruction on the planet’s animals in the process, many of which became extinct.

The Earth could not bear this torment any longer. To protect its balance, it produced twelve guardians, known as Zodiacs, three from each element and all marked with a unique symbol. From molten lava, fire, and magma came the fierce tantrums of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Out of the impassioned currents of the seas, lakes, and rivers came Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo came to being from the rocks, gravel, and soil of the land. Lastly, out of the crisp, refreshing air came Libra; Aquarius came from the clouds, and the two-headed twin Gemini, unlike the others, was inadvertently fashioned by Libra, tapping into his power. Attempting to manage two twisters against the Jinn, Libra unwittingly fused his wind with the veiled flames of the powerful Jinn. As the combination of the two elements welded, it blasted Gemini into existence.

Furthermore, given that the Zodiacs were created hundreds of years apart, with Aries being the first, they assumed ranks over each other. To prevent a monopoly over the control of each element, a system of governance called the Cardinal Order was created. This ensured the proper distribution of power. The Cardinal’s like Aires, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn drew their dominance only from the Fixed Zodiacs of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, and Aquarius, and any tampering between their links would prompt an imbalance. They were called Fixed Zodiacs because they were created only from the element they came from, unlike the Mutable Zodiacs of Virgo, Pisces, Sagittarius, and Gemini, who were the result of a blend of the elements.

Immediately, they set upon their duties of protecting the planet. As the centuries passed and the wars advanced, they imprisoned the Jinn in underwater caves deep in the ocean’s dark abyss, thus giving way for the Earth to heal and restore itself to its great picturesque state. The shores, in the sun’s glare, once again beamed a translucent, soft blue. The forest dusted off suffocating ashes and absorbed the rain, giving birth to the flourishing green vegetation that immersed and cluttered the lands with vibrant, beautiful sceneries. In turn, the plants released clean air into the atmosphere, removing the once dominating pollution that choked it. Eventually, peace and serenity reigned throughout the Earth. In unison, the Zodiacs protected the Earth from chaos and evil. They had the power to control the elements they came from, and each was instilled to use their supernatural abilities to preserve the Earth. As they settled, the planet began to evolve. Seasons commenced, regulating the planet, thus yielding new varieties of edible plants, such as fruits and vegetables.

However, their greatest enemies were not external, as they perceived. Their demise would be initiated by their own hands. By dividing, they would fall victim to their ambitions and become the greatest threat to the very thing they swore to protect, the Earth. An event in the heavens took place and redesigned their future and their purpose.

As the angels, who entertained him, were preoccupied with their assigned tasks, Adam began to feel isolated. Without having anyone to communicate with, his loneliness mounted. God observed Adam’s need for a companion, so while Adam fell into a deep slumber, God took one of his ribs and, from it, fashioned a being named Eve. Upon waking from his sleep, Adam was astonished to see a radiantly beautiful person, gazing at him in admiration. Delightfully surprised, Adam inquired of her origin. She told him that God created her from him to be his companion. Like a child, Adam overflowed with uncontained joy. Enchanted by Eve, he took her through the gardens for a tour.

As they roamed the gardens, God appeared before them. He told them that everything in the gardens was for them to take, should they want it, except for the fruit from the forbidden tree. Without any protest, they agreed to obey God’s request. God also warned them of Iblees and told them to always be on alert for him, for he was their eternal enemy, and no good would come from him. With that, God left the pair to enjoy themselves.

As time passed, Adam and Eve’s love grew stronger, and the two became inseparable. In the latter part of one day, as they walked by the forbidden tree, Iblees, occupying the body of a willing serpent, appeared. Cognitive of the unquenchable desires that all humans possess, he called them over to the forbidden tree, stating that he yearned to share a beneficial secret. They hearkened intently as Iblees beguilingly asked them if they desired to be immortals, like the angles. Eve protested and warned Adam, but Iblees, vowing mankind’s downfall, insisted on manipulating the nascent creatures. He continued to whisper thoughts of eternal life, stating it was theirs if they took just one bite. Gradually, Adam became enticed by Iblees’s seductive words. He reached out, grabbed a piece of fruit, and took a bite. He then turned to Eve, and with slight hesitation, she acquiesced and ate the fruit. Suddenly, the light that concealed the private areas of their bodies vanished, rendering them naked and exposed. They stood before each other, bare, and with shame and regret. Feeling humiliated and remorseful, they frenetically tore leaves from the trees around them to cover their naked bodies. Their hearts filled with fear and remorse; they knew God would be angry for disobeying Him.

The thunderous anger of God’s voice reached them. They trembled with fear as they were summoned before Him to account for their actions. As they approached God and stood before Him, He could see they regretted what they had done. With their hearts filled with sorrow, they bowed before Him and pleaded for mercy and forgiveness. Although angry, God, being merciful and forgiving, accepted their plea. Instead of punishing them, He told them they would be sent to Earth to purify themselves, and once they died, they would return to Him to account for their deeds on Earth. Before expelling them, He warned them that Iblees would stop at nothing to ruin them and their offspring.

With the absence of the Jinn, shock crept through Iblees’s nerves. He frantically searched the Earth for his army of Jinn. Finally, he found them imprisoned in caves deep in the Earth’s oceans. He tried countless times to free them, but his actions proved futile. He realized that as long as the Zodiacs were on Earth, he would be powerless to free the Jinn.

Because Iblees was not on Earth when the Zodiacs were created, they could not see him, thus allowing him to get close and study them undetected. Iblees observed the Zodiacs from a distance as they curiously watched the humans develop. He mused as the Zodiacs began to take particular interest in the romantic affairs between them. The Zodiacs found it extremely seductive and irresistible, thus prompting Iblees to entice desire between the Zodiacs themselves.

As two thousand years passed, humans saw their numbers swell to the hundreds of thousands. They began to build cities and great civilizations, consequently catching the attention of the robust Zodiacs, including Iblees. However, humans consistently found themselves warring with the less intelligent but incredibly strong Cave Dwellers that settled near the volcanoes. These beings were physically stronger, but they lacked the intellect to contend with the weapons constructed by humans.

By putting family before God, humans began to stray from the belief of a single god. Instead, they opted to venerate the idols of their ancestors, eventually leading to complete abandonment of monotheism. In this way, their senses inclined them toward the artificial protection of idols. Iblees now found his opportunity; he seduced the Zodiacs with the thought of lordship over Adam’s descendants, for his aim was to entice humanity to stray from the belief in God, thus dooming their souls with his. Rather than an obstacle, Iblees now regarded the Zodiacs as a serendipitous part of his master plan. All but Virgo abandoned the purpose of their evolution and approached the humans, revering them with displays of grandeur and power, and ultimately, convinced them of their divinity. Feeding off their worship, the Zodiacs’ pride thirsted for more opulence, veneration, and indulgence. Virgo persistently objected. However, her protests always proved futile, as the other Zodiacs found humans to be harmless and irresistible to ignore.

In hopes of gaining support from the gods, humans named their children after them. In contrast, others sacrificed animals in their name, enticing the drunken gods to shower them with the treasures hidden in the Earth, complemented by the abundance of sustenance. However, Aries valued grand displays of combat above all else, and given that most inhabitants of his realm consisted of the feeble-minded Cave Dwellers, there was no shortage of willing participants. However, the humans under his governance abstained from such practices, preferring to be the ones orchestrating the events that would bring forth the demise of the brutish Cave Dwellers. Although fierce, they proved to be the wisest of all the different species on Earth. Their reddish complexion and their warrior-minded attitudes were what enticed Aries to procure them.

Virgo urged the Zodiacs to abandon their wickedness by desperately trying to persuade them to stay true to their mission, but her pleas fell on stubborn ears. Indulged in their power, addictively, they wanted more. Given the difference in their elemental makeup, the relationships between the Zodiacs were either complemented or strained. This led to a territorial separation of the Earth, prompting four dominions to emerge, each powered by a different element. Cancer ruled the Water Kingdom with his cryptic Queen, Pisces. Aries and his Fire Queen, Leo, ruled the Fire Kingdom, and Libra, with the Air Queen, Aquarius, ruled the Air Kingdom. Lastly, Capricorn, with stern Taurus as his queen, governed the Earth Kingdom.

Each kingdom was allotted humans, who they divided between themselves based on the shade of their skin without any regard for kin. Humans, aided by the enslaved Jinn, built towering domains for their lords. People were assigned into ranks, where those on top enjoyed living in luxury in proximity to their gods. However, as the human population swelled, the Zodiacs noticed that they became weaker, fueling concerns and trepidation.

Fearing rebellion, they orchestrated War Games to quell the expanding growth of the people. Held on the Earth’s sandy north pole, the exhibitions took place every ten sun cycles, each cycle amounting to a decade. Humans enjoyed these competitions and believed it was their duty to demonstrate their loyalty and devotion to their Zodiac gods. Furthermore, there was a grand prize that each kingdom vied after and had no apprehensions about killing for it; the Eternal Cup as it was kenned. Contained in the Eternal Cup was a never-ending liquid that provided a refreshing taste and had the power to instantly heal wounds and rejuvenate skin to its youthful brilliance. However, it was unable to extend life. Regardless, it was the possibility of eternal youth that Adam’s descendants battled for the most, nevertheless oblivious to the real reason for the tournaments, to preserve their supremacy through population control.

***

The sun’s searing rays beat down on the warring factions disturbing the calm golden sand dunes.

Shields! A commander cried out, triggering a legion of warriors bearing spears to raise their rounded wooden planks. Shading the sun’s light was a volley of arrows darting toward them with impressive speeds. The security from those in the forefront proved ineffective. As the arrows penetrated the ranks, they pierced their way through leather and flesh, sending scores of men to their bloody doom.

Scorpio’s face was flush with anger. He turned to Gemini with a penetrating gaze, and the two-headed twin Zodiac returned a wicked grin.

Something on your mind, Scorpio? they quipped.

Scorpio remained silent, although he was confident in Gemini’s meddling. However, given the loss of the Water Army, he was not in a position to intercede. Any grievances would have to be addressed in the council, away from human eyes.

Release! ordered Capricorn. Of all the Zodiac kings, he was the only one to personally engage with the people subject to his domain. Unlike the other three kingdoms, who had Zodiac generals to lead their armies, Capricorn was obligated to lead his own. The Air Kingdom had the cunning twin-headed siblings, Gemini, an awkwardly comical duo that frequently tried the patience of the other Zodiacs, yet always seemed to know just when to pull back on their provocation.

With that command, enormous boulders of rock catapulted toward the army of the Air Kingdom. The impact had disastrous effects on the units.

Suddenly, from above, a large flock of birds rained down small razor-sharp blades from the sky. They slashed their way through tissue and bone and came to a halt a few feet below the sand. The attack would have proven fatal for the soldiers in Capricorn’s Earth Army had it not been for the quick actions of one of their commanders who prepared for the possibility of their assault.

Take them down! he cried.

A detachment of men, known as Stone Throwers, hurled rocks with precision, knocking the birds out of the air. What began as daggers falling, suddenly shifted into a shower of birds plummeting toward the ground.

As the giant boulders continued to hammer down on the Air Army, specifically on the frontline soldiers, Libra saw that his defeat was imminent. He raised his hand toward the three men with banners stationed on the outskirts of the battle.

They understood the signal and acquiesced to the command of their god, King Libra.

The humans in each kingdom not only considered the Zodiacs gods, but also saw them as kings, queens, and generals of their respective kingdoms that consisted of only human subjects, except for Aires, who was the king of the Fire Kingdom and incorporated the primitive Cave Dwellers within his ranks.

The men with banners from the Air Army hoisted a white flag high, signifying their surrender, followed by a blast of their trumpet horn.

Beat the drums, Capricorn ordered, commanding his army to halt, while Libra flashed him a distant nod.

The fighting promptly ceased, and the Earth Army broke into a frenzy of cheers. Once again, they won the right to drink from the Eternal Cup; this was their third victory out of five wars, with the other two won by the Water and Fire Armies, respectfully. Continuous losses always left a sour taste of bitterness from the Air Kingdom toward the other kingdoms, especially the Earth Kingdom. They regarded them as inferior and undeserving of their victories, but it was jealousy that propelled their resentment. Of all the kingdoms, the Earth Kingdom was the most festive and tranquil in ambience and, given their successive triumphs for the Eternal Cup, had the most robust figures. This fed and catered to the other’s envy, who felt it unreasonable that the Earth Kingdom would participate equally, given their size and strength, no doubt symptoms of the liquid from the Eternal Cup.

Nevertheless, the radiant, soft, sable Earth people harmoniously intoned the battle cries of their kingdom as they soaked up the rays of their victory. They waited with great impatience for the real prize, a sip from the Eternal Cup, something that the people of the Earth Kingdom have grown addicted to. For three days during the Festival of Life, the Eternal Cup would be passed from one adult person to the next. On the evening of the third day, the Eternal Cup would be replaced and sealed in a mysterious cave, only known to the four kings until the next War Games or population boom, whichever came first.

Chapter 1

Be mindful of what you wish for; it might come true sooner than you think.

Late, as usual, Aries, scolded Cancer with his piercing dark eyes and austere posture.

The Zodiacs were seated in elaborate galleries positioned in a circular formation, created from the four elements of water, earth, fire, and air. It was a brilliant chamber that consisted of decor relevant to each element. The balcony assigned to the Water Kingdom was adorned with visual displays of dancing water and ice sculptures. The Earth Kingdom’s balcony was rich with flowers and enchanting aromas, while the Air Kingdom’s balcony appeared to float on bulging clouds. However, equally astonishing was the balcony of the Fire Kingdom, which was stationed before a wall of perpetual sinking flames that illuminated the chamber, painting it with a blushing amber.

Set on the Earth’s desolate southern pole, the grand hall, which the Zodiacs called Silyana, sat atop a lofty mountain, enabling the Zodiacs to conduct their affairs in private, away from human eyes.

No one has forced you to wait. Perhaps for the next meeting, we could hold it in my palace. I don’t see why we need to burden ourselves by scaling this enormous mountain to conduct these trivial meetings, replied Aries as he peered around the hall with a smirk on his face. He took a seat on his iron chair before a backdrop of dazzling flames that fell like raindrops.

The council meetings are to be held here, commanded an ascetic Cancer. We constructed this chamber for that reason; it is a neutral realm that is disengaged from our clutches.

Calm yourselves, brothers. After all, we are gods; let us not behave like humans, Capricorn intervened. And Cancer is right, Aries… we use the desert for the War Games and Silyana for the meetings, as we all agreed, continued the Earth King.

Yes, Aries, spare us the tantrum this once, incited Cancer. Although there was a rivalry between the two, there was always a hint of playfulness to their quarrels.

Let us bring this council to order, my love. After all, there are more pressing issues at stake, Pisces interrupted as she placed her hand on Cancer’s slender shoulder.

Well, said, Pisces, you should listen to your wife more often, Gemini teasingly said to Cancer.

Watch yourself, Gemini, or you will wake up one day to see both your tongues removed, Scorpio threatened in a low, deep voice as he took a step forward with his hand on his holstered sword.

Enough, Scorpio! Cancer exclaimed. We shall commence. As you see, brothers and sisters, it is a full moon, and as we agreed, we must meet on every full moon to assess our reign in this world. Otherwise, humans will sense weakness in us, Cancer stated as he inaugurated the gathering.

Weakness! Aries interjected with a roar. The realm of fire knows no such word. The humans obey us and worship us, and should any of them step out of line, they know the consequences are severe, he continued in a prideful manner.

Have we not taken this too far? We were created to protect the Earth’s elements from the Jinn, not to be false gods to the humans. We must repent and go back to our true purpose, Virgo pleaded as she got up and firmly placed her hand on the balcony wall.

Virgo, worry not, sister. The world is still balanced. With the Jinn imprisoned, what’s wrong with having a command of the Earth? Moreover, we were created to protect it, and we have defended it. Those who aim to threaten the peace are repelled by our persistent governance, Libra replied, hoping to comfort her.

You perceive not, Libra, you have fallen victim to your ambitions. You are heading to the fate of those doomed before us, Virgo replied.

Fools! cried Aquarius, flaring the tiny azure feathers that covered most of her body. She was referring to the past Jinn wars. Destroying the Earth in their thirst for power, as you can see, sister, the Earth is in a peaceful state.

Enough! You have made your grievances know to this council, let us move on to other matters, Aries stated.

These are not grievances Aries, these are warnings, and I will not be an accomplice to your inevitable demise. I wish you all well, but I fear the end is near for all of us, Virgo said as her innocent eyes filled with worry. The room remained silent as everyone waited for her to continue. Instead, she calmly stood up and turned her back on the others and walked over, facing the enormous gate of soil, rock, and gravel in the quarter assigned to the Capricorn’s Earth Kingdom. Not needing to wait for it to open, she dove into the gate and vanished within its matter.

Yes, run along, Virgo, leave the ruling of this planet to us, Aries said. Is she mad, are we to destroy ourselves? Besides, humans were constantly at war before our intervention. At least we are civilizing their combats. They should be grateful if you ask me, Aires continued. The other Zodiacs from the Air Kingdom nodded in agreement.

That’s enough, Aires, Capricorn said.

No, Capricorn, I don’t think you understand. If the human populations grow beyond the set limits, then we are finished. Also, it’s not like humans are flies who live for days. If we lose our power and the barriers that confine the Jinn fall, havoc will be inflicted on the planet, and all that we built will be destroyed, so contemplate that.

The room fell silent. They knew Aries was right. Since the humans were made from the Earth, their births consumed the Earth’s energy, thus siphoning it from the Zodiacs.

Scorpio, go after her and talk some sense into her, Pisces said.

No, I will go. Virgo is a great friend of mine, Cancer insisted.

You, my dear? Pisces asked as Cancer rose. Pisces’s face grew pale; she was uncomfortable with him leaving. As she knew, the atmosphere could change to hostility without the neutralizing effect of Cancer. What’s more, she was also a little jealous of the bond between him and Virgo. Would it not be better for you to remain beside your queen? Pisces continued.

Virgo is a dear friend; I should be the one to go after her, he said as he sauntered toward the water gateway used by Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. He was hoping to catch Virgo before she reached the base of the mountain, as he knew she was powerless to vanish into the mountain rock.

Yes, go Cancer, and spare us from this foolishness, Aries said dismissively.

Scorpio, general of the Water Kingdom, had enough. He got up and drew his sword toward Aries, but his king, Cancer, intercepted.

"Calm yourself, Scorpio. As for you,

Reviews for Legends of Earth

[Johnathan Musish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great fantasy if your into Lord of the Rings type books, but this is simpler to keep track of and you could get into it more because your zodiac.

[Mike Long · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was fun, original and developed nicely. Great mix between zodiac, and mythology combined with kingdoms, power, supernatural forces. it also, seen to have a hidden message to it.