Titanix: the eighth continent

By Emile Emtoch

Culinary witches, centrus' and Titan fairies. These are just some of the unique characters that are introduced in this tale of a young culinary witch named Anna. Anna sets out to help feed orphans after she learns of a drought in the east of the land. However, Anna faces an obstacle- her own inexperience. Culinary witches could only perform food related magic, like conjuring up food and turning objects into food, Anna, knew only a handful of spells and none would be able to help the people in the east. So, Anna joined by her best friend Katkit, who happened to be a cat, goes on a mission to save the orphans from starvation and dehydration. They decide to go to the kingdom of Capia to ask the queen for help. Along the way Anna faces fiends as well as friends as she struggles to get to Capia, however, when Anna arrives at the kingdom she faces unexpected trouble.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716696909

Book preview

Titanix: The Eighth Continent

by

Emile W. Emtoch

Can you remember?

Can you remember the place where the birds wish you a happy evening, and the moon lulls you until you're dreaming? Where the sprites dance on the rays of the  morning sun, and the stars goes to sleep, one by one?

Can you remember the eighth continent?

Yes, the eighth continent. Those who do remember, call it the forgotten continent. Those who inhabit it calls it Titanix.

Titanix is a place of magic. It's a place of magical creatures with magical features. A place of magical beings with magical things. Magic is not a strange and mysterious concept in Titanix because everyone knows about it and everybody knows that it's real. It's just another fact of life, like sweet sweet sugar, or bitter bitter broccoli.

Anna, the secret witch

Somewhere in Titanix was a quiet little town called Crow. Somewhere in the little town of Crow was a modest little school. And somewhere in the modest little school was little Anna.

Anna sat in class staring out the window envying the high flying clouds in the sky. They seemed so happy being high up in the sky, with no one to bother them, and no one to tell them where to go, Anna thought to herself. 

Anna wore her favourite little red dress with heavy boots that shone brightly in the sunlight. She had unusual hair that was pitch black, like her father's, on one side but bright blue on the other side. The black hair was more curly, while the bright blue hair wavy.

Lucky clouds, no school, no homework, no worries. Anna softly whispered to herself. The fine tuned ears of Anna's teacher, Miss Marlow, caught Anna's whispers. Miss Marlow's reading glasses fitted perfectly on her pointy nose, and her silver hair was tied in a bun, on the side of her head. Miss Marlow shook her head when she noticed that Anna was daydreaming, again.

Ahem, Anna! Miss Marlow said to get Anna's attention. The entire class' attention shifted towards Anna as she innocently stared at Miss Marlow.

Yes, Miss Marlow? Anna answered.

I don't know what I peeve more – you constantly staring out the window, or you constantly talking with the sprites when they're here. Miss Marlow said, impatiently.

Detention will help her pay attention, Miss Marlow! a boy shouted from the back of the class. Anna stared at her teacher in horrifying anticipation with her big brown eyes. Anna had never sat detention before and had always dreaded the idea of sitting after school for a whole hour.

So you may have a friend this afternoon? Not today, Wilfred. the class giggled as Wilfred slumped down in his chair.

I'll try to pay attention from now on, Miss Marlow, Anna said. She took a glance at the clock hanging in front the class and saw that there were less than fifteen seconds before the end of school. Her anticipation grew with each passing second.

Yes, please try to do that, Anna. Now, please tell the class how many vowels there are in the English alphabet.

I think there are... five, Anna said.

Good, now be sure to pay attention--

Four, three, two, one! Anna shouted then raised both her arms to the sky as the bell rang signalling the end of the school day. All of Anna's classmates cheered, and packed up their books hastily. Anna jumped up, grabbed her bag and attempted to run out with her classmates, but Miss Marlow intercepted her. Miss Marlow waited for all the other children to leave then shook her head disappointingly at Anna.

That was not nice, Anna. Miss Marlow said, glancing over her glasses.

I'm sorry, Miss, it's just that school's over for the week. I'm just anxious to get out and play.

I know, and I'll allow you your freedom in a bit, but I have to ask you a question before you go.

There are twenty-six letters in the alphabet, and an infinite number of numbers, Anna said jokingly, but immediately stopped her laughter when Miss Marlow gave a look of disapproval. 

I'm sorry Miss Marlow, what did you want to ask?

All jokes aside now. Do you know where the sprites are? You are their closest friend, not so?

I am, but they haven't come to play with me all week. Anna said, disappointedly.

Is this something they usually do? Have they ever done it before?

No, Miss, I can't remember a day that has gone by without me seeing them, well, except for this passed week.

Okay, do you know where they live?

Well, yes, they live in the hill beneath our house, but I'm too large to enter their burrows, so we always play in the forest.

In the forest? Miss Marlow thought for a bit. where do you live, Anna?

My father and I live just outside the Prism forest.

The Prism forest? So far out, huh? Miss Marlow whispered to herself. Thank you Anna for your help, now you are free to enjoy your weekend.

Glad to be of help, Miss Marlow.

Anna waved goodbye, then ran outside to greet her father. When she got outside she saw that many of the parents had already collected their children, and had gone home, with only a few waiting on benches or at the fence.

Anna's father, Tempest, who was also a witch, was waiting patiently outside the gate, with the other moms. Tempest had short black hair, which he always kept well groomed. And unlike most witches, who liked wearing dark cloaks, Tempest liked wearing colourful clothes, as well as very colourful shoes.

Tempest was a descendent of the culinary witch bloodline, thus he and Anna could only perform food related magic, like conjuring up food, cutleries and tableware. The culinary witches were also known to be kinder and less malicious among witchkind. However, even culinary witches were banned from the continent of Titanix, so Tempest was sure to keep it a secret that both of them were witches.

Afternoon, daddy. Anna said, giving her father a big hug. You're wearing the yellow shoes today, huh?

Yes, these are my favourites. Tempest said, looking down proudly at them.

They're very... shiny. Anna said secretly wishing that they didn't resemble bananas.

You enjoyed school?

It was okay, Anna said bluntly.

Just okay? I hope you're paying attention in class and listening to Miss Marlow.

I am. I think you should summon my pointy hat now, the sun is shining extra bright today and I don't want to get sunburnt. Anna said.

We're not out of town yet, I can't summon your hat until we're in the woods, you know that.

I don't understand why magic is banned in Crow. What's so bad about it anyway?

The town of Crow was the only town in the whole of Titanix where non-magical people – or dullies as they are commonly known – lived. Those who were born without any magical powers congregated and established a non-magical town and named it after a non-magical bird. They loathed magic because of the treatment they receive from the magical beings. Many mocked them for their lack of magical abilities and thus Crow is a safe haven for those without any magical abilities whatsoever.

Tempest saw Crow as a fitting place to live because no one would expect witches to live peacefully in a dully town. However, Tempest could never muster up the courage to tell Anna that their kind were hated by virtually everyone in Titanix. He knew it would just break her young, innocent heart just like it broke his own heart when he learned about peoples hatred towards witchkind.

It's just the way things are Anna and we must respect it. Now come, we're near the woods.

After they reached the cover of the forest Tempest pulled out his wand and summoned Anna's black pointy hat for her as well as his magical flying broom, then they jetted towards the Prism forest in the South.

They flew high in the sky, among the birds and the clouds. Anna took off her black pointy hat again, revealing her beautiful long hair. She loved to feel the wind through her hair. They flew with the birds, between the white puffy clouds.

All animals in Titanix had the ability to speak human words, and the birds all greeted as they flew past. It wasn't only the animals that could speak human words, most things in Titanix could speak them, including the sun, the moon, the stars and even the clouds.

Now, tell me, how was school really?

School's not as fun not having my best friends there.

They were absent from school? I’m sure that they will be back on Monday Tempest said reassuringly. However, Anna wasn't so easily convinced.

They have been absent for the whole week, it's unlike the sprites to miss school, they actually like going there.

"Sprites? Like the little fairies that