Athyra: The First Chapter: Athyra: The First Chapter

By Haikal Haziq

Kalen Jones never knew much of his past because he was told by Uncle Max a different story until he turned 18. Right then, Kalen Jones knew deeply everything he should have known and the weird things happening inside him, discovering that he possesses something powerful that does not belong to the human world. Whatever his origins were, it was going to be an adventure

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Dec 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716305689

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ATHYRA

The First Chapter

A story by Haikal Haziq

Athyra is a creation of my own fantasy, a place to escape for a while. Athyra a land both magic and technology co-exist, people and mystical creatures live together, a king to rule them all. The journey of a teenager fighting through obstacles to uncover the truth of the past, right where he was born. But, not alone.

1.

Athyra, a land filled with both magic and technology, mystical creatures dwell with the people together. You wouldn't see this place here; it is from a different world, a world with an unfamiliar reality. Nature so beautiful; the sunrise and the sunset were one of a kind, from the coldest winter to the warmest summer, the wind blew gently with its cool breeze, trees, and skies so blue filled with clouds. Way up high in the sky, big cities form with the tech provided. Though modern tech they own, they kept their ancient tradition. The way they dress, the way they speak, might not be much different from what the Athyrans applied. Still, they use a different alphabet; other lands exist in Athyra. Each land has its realms depending on what type of land it was. Some of the lands have the most beautiful place, and some have their worst nightmares. Different names were given by the people to it, such as Land of Hope, where anyone who enters it will never fear anything and always stayed straight ahead. Another was the Land of the Dragons, where a barrier lets only dragons enter through it, a haven for the dragons. There was one that the people of Athyra feared and avoided for good. It holds the darkest evil beings like witches, criminals, and other dark beings. It's called Land of the Doomed, where deep in the Realm of Nightmare is said to be. No one knows what happens if you were to enter the realm; nobody ever survived to tell the tale.

As for Athyrans, they lived in harmony since ancient times. Except for a war that once happened. After all, it was no heaven; it's just a different situation than what humans face. Different reality means a different fate, a different tale. However, the hardship is still the same. Always problem appears anywhere. It is the matter of perspective on how people deal with it. Like our world, we do have our weaknesses, weaknesses that caused such terrors, the act of violence that lead to such destruction. Still, nature stayed the same. Nature in Athyra is alive. It will speak, act to whom it may, legend has it for those chosen would be given a gift by it. Athyrans look like humans, but on how magic and abilities flow in them. Their technology depends on the magic that lurks there. Any advancements will evolve based on them. Magic in Athyra works like a power fuel or power source. It doesn't just absorb in machines but in the people too. But still only a few may have the ability to own the power. These people are known as sorcerers; they train to control power with their mind and soul. Magic will not corrupt them. They use magic to heal the mystical creatures and heal the sick ones affected by witchery.

Since magic runs in their lands, flows in their soil, water, and air. It was necessary to have also affected the plants that grow there. These plants grow faster and live much longer. In the night, these plants and trees would glow brightly. The people would come and pick them or tear them down for good matters, but not all were torn. Only some of them were, like the Glowing Wood. A great medicine to heal physical wounds inside and outside the body.

Deep in Athyra is a kingdom; it stands in the center to rule all who lived. The most extraordinary power ever known there is the heart of Athyra, which is guarded by the royalties. However, evil forces lurk on the edge of Athyra, and the land was called Zytriya. The Zytriyans used to be allied with Athyrans and guarded the portal to the human world, but the leader known as Sir Fallien had something in mind to conquer the human world. So, he went to the royalties and convinced them of his plans. But the prince, who was a researcher, spent most of his time learning there. He objected to him and convinced the whole palace that the human world must never interfere and that the humans are powerful and dangerous that could affect the Kingdom. After months, the prince was married and lived together with the princess continuing his research. The Zytriyans were soon replaced with the Royal Guardians to guard the portal due to his suspicion. Since then, the people of Zytriya lived in their lands. Fallien only grew hatred towards them and never changed his mind since, so he went to the kingdoms forbidden archive secretly and stole the ancient dark scrolls. He combined the dark magic with the pure magic of Athyra, thus creating a new power of darkness. Daily, he used his magic to fool the guardians and sneak into the human world to find whoever could be his apprentice.

    One day, a human caught his intention, so he dealt with him and brought him back to Athyra. Months of training and planning, finally, the Zytrian's waged war against the royalties to take the heart of Athyra. They attacked so powerful it was a battle like none before because a human fought with them. Fallien knew that a human would be great enough to take down Athyrans. With the king's order, all Athyran gathered and fight, using the heart of Athyra's power, he closed all portals. But before, the prince and the princess left their child in the human world to protect him and their child's name is Kalen Jones or his Athyran name, Karley Jona. Of course, they did not leave him there alone. They sent a guardian disguising to be his uncle to protect him. Whatever lies ahead of Kale awaits, he will return to Athyra for whatever he possesses belongs to Athyra.

  Prince Marley Jona, known as Marlin Jones in the human world, was driving fast through the heavy rain in the middle of the night. His wife, the princess, was holding baby Kale in her arms. They were in a hurry to reach someone they were close with and can trust. The person's name is Maxirm Vlekt or short Max. Works as a Royal Guardian for the royal family but lives in the human world to guard both the prince and princess from far where they live, deep in the woods. In a mansion where they conduct their research, he would come by to take guard, and then when his shift is over, he would return home just nearby the city. When the Zytriyans attacked, all guardians in the human world were sent back to Athyra, but Max was allowed to stay by the king's permission to protect the child, the prince, and the princess's care Kale but because the king ordered them to fight. As they drove in a rush to reach his house, they had a conversation with each other,

Do you think we'll be able to see him again the princess hold Kale tight as she started to tear

What makes you say that? Marlin said to her.

This might be the last time we'll ever see him, and ever hold him, She said in despair.

    Marlin tried calming her down, Everything would be fine. It's not the first time we ever had been in a fight or battle before.

This battle is nothing like what we ever dealt before, and they're just at the gates of our kingdom, never had our enemy reached there, She worried.

    Marlin looked concerned, he might have known what was coming, but he kept calm for her, It's going to be fine, we'll deal with this together, once everything is fine, we'll return for Kale.

    Prince Marlin reached his house, Max immediately opened his front door, took his umbrella, and rushed towards them; as they were all in, he closed the door, making sure nobody was following. He slides his curtains shut; Princess Sara lied baby Kale down on the cradle that Max had prepared in a room. She sat there long while Marlin had a conversation with Max at his kitchen table,

My prince, I wish I could fight alongside you; taking care of your son is too much for me to handle. I can do it, but it's just that I'm no royalty. When he grows, what should I tell him, Max said

    Prince Marlin sighed, he gave him a box and told him, I don't want to leave him here, but I’ve no choice, the kings order…give him this box, it has a letter in it and everything he needs to know, give it to him and explain what you can when he is 17.

Why tell him then? Max asked curiously.

We had transferred some of the heart of Athyra's power to him, so he would be able to return to Athyra, Prince Marlin explained to him.

Max went surprised, But it's dangerous, if he knows what's in him, he might even hurt himself, Max said concern.

That's why you’ll tell him when he’s 17, he’ll be strong enough to handle it, I'm doing this because I don't trust my brother, I mean the king, he must be up to something, so in case of anything both of you could return home using the hearts power, Prince Marlin said to him hoping he understands.

    Max agreed with him. Prince Marlin appreciated his help and proceeded to the princess; she was having her last moments with Kale before leaving. The prince did the same, they both tore. Max stood by the room door watching over them, the prince and the princess said their last farewell, she kissed Kale's forehead. They both left him in the room, they hugged Max, and he hugged them back.

    As Prince Marlin was hugging Max, he whispered something to his ears which the princess overlooked, he said,

If we never return for him before he reaches 17, you know what it means.

    Max looked stern and said, Stay safe, my prince. Your son will be waiting. Prince Marlin smiled at him. They both left him and headed straight outside to their car. They drove fast back to their mansion, where the portal to Athyra is since the king ordered all portals to close. Once the prince and the princess arrived at the portals and went through, it will fade. So does their mansion. The only way to access it is to have the heart of Athyra's power and use it, explaining why they transferred the power to Kale, in case of anything, he would be able to return.

2.

    17 years later, outside the city. In a neighborhood, where Kale now is a grown teen.

    It was a stormy night; Kale woke up with the sound of a thunder strike, so loud it made the cars sound their alarms. he looked out through his window and felt the small wind coming through the windows airspace. Darn it's freezing, he said while looking at his watch as it was just 3.00 am. After a while, he settled on his bed and tried closing his eyes. He tried but kept opening them and decided to stay awake till morning comes to prepare for class. Most of the time if he woke up of a sudden, he would go downstairs to drink milk and head straight back to bed. Though this time he decided to write his journal on his study desk with his study lamp on. Kale sat there and started to write...

 "Today I will be 17, mom and dad still haven't shown up yet, Uncle Max keeps telling me the same story all over again, I don’t think they will ever be coming back for me, not even a photo from them, somehow I miss them even I never met them, well enough for that hmm let's see who would wish for me today aside from Casey, guess I'm a boomer with little friends, I’d rather not call them friends if they only came to me for their interests, the funniest thing about me is I did all my homework but my grades never reached even an A, like how much am I supposed to struggle to get a higher grade, but I prefer not to talk about it least I passed, well since ever Casey was the only one who treated me like a real friend, we were close since the fourth grade, we would always hang out together especially hanging out on my house rooftop, then she would be complaining about her foster parents, I feel sorry for her that she lost her parents when she was at the fourth grade, guess we are