Draconis Academy 2: Inverse Earth (A Nocturnal Academy Story)

By Ethan Somerville

The Nocturnal Academy principal has organised another special excursion, this time to the Hollow Earth. He wants to visit the exiled Vrill-ya Darmin Gallis, and perhaps entice the introverted people from their ivory towers.

He brings with him five students – Drago, Colin, Olive, Derrick and the fairy Auberia. They are all eager for adventure, but the head master informs them that this is just a routine trip to earn some extra credit.

Little do they know that an old enemy has risen from the dead and has a diabolical plan of revenge planned for both Gallis and the entire Vrill-ya race.

This ancient people, responsible for the construction of the Hollow Earth, must now rely on an exile and a party of Surface Dweller supernaturals to help them defeat this evil demon king.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Storm Publishing
• Release date: Dec 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005867140

Ethan Somerville

Ethan Somerville is a prolific Australian author with over 20 books published, and many more to come. These novels cover many different genres, including romance, historical, children's and young adult fiction. However Ethan's favourite genres have always been science fiction and fantasy. Ethan has also collaborated with other Australian authors and artists, including Max Kenny, Emma Daniels, Anthony Newton, Colin Forest, Tanya Nicholls and Carter Rydyr.

Book preview

Draconis Academy 2

(A Nocturnal Academy Story)

Inverse Earth

by

Ethan Somerville

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Storm Publishing on Smashwords

Draconis Academy 2 – Inverse Earth

Copyright © 2021 by Ethan Somerville

www.stormpublishing.net

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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Chapter 1

Professor Icarus Abbacus paced up and down in front of the Mirror of Albiroth with his hands folded behind his back and his head down, deep in thought. Currently the ancient artefact was active, the many intricately-carved monsters surrounding it shifting and hissing malevolently. Their eyes glowed red, green and orange as they bared fangs, flexed claws, snapped beaks and wriggled various tails and tentacles. The glass in the middle swirled with light and colour.

Icarus couldn’t make a decision about where to open his next portal. Although he had recently discovered a promising alien world, containing evidence of humanoid habitation and even technology, he elected to shelve exploring it for a while and focus on a new destination. He had made the mistake of sending some children to check the planet out as part of a detention group. The discovery of a desiccated corpse had brought all three hurrying back in fear, and he didn’t want to put young kids through quite that much trauma again.

At least not yet. Although he figured young Drago Bethelrath could handle more stressful situations now, after that encounter with the fairy queens a few weeks earlier. The dragon boy had proven himself to be quite tough and completely immune to fairy glamour. And his flame was ridiculously hot. He had almost started a catastrophic bushfire up on Wharton Mountain.

Yes, the boy was certainly an asset to the school. If only he hadn’t become such close friends with that awful ex-fairy queen Auberia! Icarus would have scowled if he could have. Still, he understood why the boy had come to like that vile creature. They were both displaced, one-of-a kind beings without any other family. For that reason he tolerated her presence at the school. As the principal, he was supposed to be impartial, not governed by his feelings. He couldn’t afford to have favourites, and he certainly couldn’t afford to single out those who got up his nose, like he had in the old days.

But whenever he recalled how perfect Auberia’s replication of Delsaron Delfay had been, he cringed. He had honestly believed that Del had come back for him. Hell, Auberia had gotten everything right about him! Absolutely everything! The way his auburn hair had shimmered in the light, the exact sapphire blue of his eyes, the quirky way he had smiled, even the strange, earthy way he had smelled because of his silicon molecular structure!

She had even replicated his telepathy.

Sometimes he couldn’t even look at Auberia without wanting to strangle her in frustration.

Sir?’ called a voice from the ceiling. You’ve zoned out again!"

Icarus realised that he’d stopped pacing and was simply standing still, staring stupidly at the churning vortex in the mirror. Dammit! He smacked himself in the forehead with his metal fist. Stupid, stupid, stupid! he shouted at himself. Stop mooning around and get back to work! He looked up at the tangled mess of pipes, hoses and cables sprawled across the ceiling and flicked off a salute. Thank you, Harley.

No problem, sir, said Harley, the machine spirit who still controlled the school’s computer system. I figured you didn’t want to be off with the fairies for too long.

Icarus actually winced. He shook his metal fist at the ceiling in a temper. "Harley, never ever use that analogy again!"

Whoops! Sorry sir! It just slipped out. Harley gave an embarrassed giggle.

Icarus swore and glared at the Mirror of Albiroth. Its many carvings seemed to glare back, mocking him and adding to his embarrassment.

A shadow detached itself from the many filling the Professor’s gloomy lab and approached. Is there maybe something I can help you with, Icarus? it asked in a barely-audible whisper.

Icarus turned to look up at the ghost; a tall, semi-transparent female with jade green eyes and long black hair. She wore a filmy black gown. It, and her hair, wafted gracefully around her body, as though she was floating in water rather than air. She had appeared in her late sixties or early seventies when she’d died, but now she looked much younger. The only sign she retained to remind others, and herself, of her true age was a single stark white streak in her dark locks, running down one side of her face.

Ah, Elliana, rasped Icarus. You’re becoming more substantial with each passing day.

I’m growing stronger, slowly but steadily, whispered Madam Elliana Nocturna, the Nocturnal Academy’s previous principal. One day soon I hope to be powerful enough to reveal myself to the others, but for now only you and Alice get to see me. She smiled.

"Are you sure I can’t help you to become stronger?" Icarus rubbed his mismatched hands together with a little too much eagerness.

No! Elliana reproached. I told you before, this is something I have to do on my own. Stop asking me. Now, what seems to be the problem here? She gestured towards the glowing mirror with one see-through hand.

Icarus sighed. You know this thing can open a portal to any time, place or alternate reality, don’t you?

Yes, it’s like that Omniportallis device of yours, only it has a mind of its own and is quite evil.

He chose to ignore the second part of her statement. As an intelligent, purely Magickal artefact it’s considerably more powerful than the Omniportallis, and much harder to detect. It can reach considerably further, and also doesn’t use nearly as much energy, but yes – it is quite similar. And, like the Omniportallis, it requires coordinates. So I’ve been putting random figures into the thing in an attempt to find … to find… He paused. Had he needed to breathe, he would have taken a deep breath to gather up the courage to reveal the truth. He couldn’t afford to keep things bottled up anymore. Secrets didn’t help anyone, and had risen to bite him on the backside numerous times during the past. To find planet Eridon, to find … Del.

Ah, said Madam Nocturna.

"I’ve found lots of alternate Earths – they’re only one or two numbers different. Although some appear very interesting, I daren’t indulge my curiosity. I could end up wasting years exploring parallel realms. He gave a rueful chuckle. But a few weeks ago, I believe I finally did discover another planet."

That’s incredible!

A remote desert world. I sent in a drone, but it didn’t find much. Only a half-buried bunker. Then I sent Drago and two other boys in to explore the bunker more thoroughly. Unfortunately, it was empty, and had been so for a considerable while. The only thing they discovered of any interest was one very dead body. I tried to communicate with it, but the spirit that had chosen to inhabit it was quite stark, raving mad. If I want more information, I’ll have to plan a longer expedition, which could take months. Not something I can afford to do right now. But I don’t think the desert world is Eridon. That body was humanoid – carbon-based.

An actual human? Elliana gasped.

A close relation. The DNA was very similar. Maybe all I did was find yet another Earth. He sighed again. So now I’m about to resume putting more random numbers into this thing. He gestured towards the mirror’s Magick keyboard. Only I’m having a little trouble getting motivated.

Elliana frowned and lifted a hand to her chin to rub it. For a moment she appeared more solid, almost like she was actually there with him. But then she faded again. It took ghosts a lot of energy to manifest, and she was still young and relatively inexperienced at the process. Random numbers won’t get you anywhere, Icarus. You know the likelihood of that.

Yes, I know the math, he grumbled. But it’s all I can think of right now.

Elliana drifted over to the keyboard and stared into the multicoloured continuum. The creatures regarded her curiously, tolerating her presence because she was dead. The mirror could only be operated by necromancy spells. You need to approach this another way. Why don’t you ask an actual Eridon?

Icarus turned on her with a fierce glare from his red mechanical eye. He had to bite down on an insult. This was Madam Nocturna, for pity’s sake. She was almost as smart as he was! What the hell are you talking about? There are no Eridons here! Not since Rhys Kelly departed!

Of course there are. I can think of at least one.

He stared at her in shock. Are you talking about Father John Lost? Yes, he was one of those human/Eridon half-castes, but was transformed into a full-blooded Eridon during his exile in the Immaterium. I started training him, but I doubt he could help me with any additional knowledge. Besides, these days he has his hands full dealing with Marcel Sauvage. Apparently, the werelion had a nervous breakdown while I was sleeping, quit teaching, and went to the Church of the Stigmata to ‘find himself’!

No, Icarus, I wasn’t talking about Father Lost. I was referring to that Vrill-ya fellow I fixed up, Darmin Gallis.

Icarus stared at her, his blue eye wide. He actually lifted his mechanical hand to his steel chin. "Are you serious?"

Deadly. She smiled at the awful pun. "Now, he’s technically not an Eridon Eridon, and he mightn’t know much being an exile, but what about all those other Vrill-ya down there? She gestured towards the stone tiles beneath with one pointy, ghostly slipper. I’m sure someone in one of those ivory towers knows something."

Icarus stared at her again. That’s … that’s actually a good idea, he said after a moment. No, not just good. Bloody brilliant. Why the hell didn’t I think of that?

She poked his forehead with a see-through finger, and he felt the iciness of her touch. Because you’re too close to the situation, Icarus. You needed someone with fresh eyes, someone different, to help you with a fresh perspective.

Icarus prodded some keys on the Magick keyboard. To reach the Hollow Earth, he had to input the exact coordinates for Earth, but in reverse. The carved creatures shifted and hissed as though to say about bloody time you made a choice. The random colours within the mirror started to move in a circle, opening a portal. Soon, an image appeared within, depicting a peaceful forest glade.

Icarus had targeted the site where the Circus Infinitus had once lain until he’d dug it out and fixed it up. He expected to see the area overgrown and consumed by the surrounding vegetation, but someone appeared to have been there relatively recently, and torn the area up again. The site was dotted with holes and littered with mounds of dirt and broken trees. There was some regrowth, but no more than a year at most. Perhaps locals had been searching for any treasures he might have left behind. The cloud-covered sky of the Hollow Earth stretched beyond, the outline of opposite continents just visible through the blue.

That’s the place, said Elliana with a smile. I wish I could come with you if you decide to go, but right now I’m still bound to the school.

Not even Baron Falkenstein figured out how to leave, Icarus declared.

Elliana flipped a hand. He wasn’t interested in leaving. He focussed all his energy on taking over that computer and honing his psionic powers. I’ll get there eventually.

Gallis shouldn’t be too hard to track down – he decided to stay at King Anatis’ old ziggurat and man the farm, Icarus mused, I can start there. And those Vrill-ya cities are visible for miles around. But to actually get inside one to see a Vrill-ya? He turned to Elliana. They don’t like strangers. Busboy and Steamsaw said they visited one city named Dalona, and wandered around it for ages calling for someone to come out and help. No-one ever did.

I know you like them because they’re some of your earliest creations, but face it Icarus - Busboy and Steamsaw aren’t the smartest of zombies. I’m sure if you showed up, with your incredible wealth of knowledge and experience, someone will emerge to speak to you.

I agree – I am quite impressive. He straightened up and planted his hands on his hips. But would they deign to see me? After all, I’m an undead being. Those Vrill-ya snobs might have an issue with that.

That I can’t answer, said Elliana. But I have given you something to think about.

You certainly have, thank you. I haven’t been there for a while, and I would like to visit again, make sure Darmin Gallis hasn’t been causing any more trouble with the locals. Icarus tapped the keyboard, closing down the portal. The carved creatures expressed their disappointment, but slowed their movements and solidified back into their immobile ebony shapes. But it will take me some time to plan the next trip. I certainly don’t want to be caught unawares.

I’m sure you will be successful, said Elliana. Her form flickered, and she almost disappeared, becoming a mere outline against the shadowy background of the laboratory. But right now I’m losing energy, and I need to return to the crypts to rest. Please … if you need me, come down and call. I will respond. She faded.

Thank you, Elliana, said Icarus, and the last vestige of her image disappeared.

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Chapter 2

A group of year 7 students sat on aluminium seats at the edge of the main quadrangle, eating their lunches. This consisted of Drago Bethelrath, whom everyone still thought was a werelizard, Colin Hamed, a werehedgehog, Olive Otumo, a cactus spirit, and Auberia Fae, the school’s very first fairy. Nearby sat moody Derrick Barrington the Fourth, a weredog, and Brittney Holden, a werecrow.

All were currently in their human forms. Drago was a small, skinny Mongolian lad with shiny black hair he was starting to grow so he could pull it back into a cool pony tail. Colin, Drago’s best mate, was a stocky, olive-skinned boy with lots of curly black hair. He came from Birmingham, but had Pakistani ancestry. Olive, seated beside Colin, was tall and slender with a frizzy afro. She came from Lagos in Nigeria. Auberia was just as tall and thin as Olive, but pale and blonde, wearing her hair in a short pixie cut. She appeared androgynous. Derrick was lean but muscular, with perfectly tanned skin and long, wavy brown locks that tumbled over his shoulders. He would have been handsome had he not always been scowling. And finally, Brittney was a curvaceous bleached blonde who wore her black school shirt tied in a knot to expose a pierced belly-button.

It hadn’t taken long for Auberia to become a member of this eclectic group. The ex-fairy queen didn’t fit in with any other clique. Although she had a long and illustrious heritage, the vampires were still far too snooty to accept any