Nerdia

By Andrew Zellgert

A darkness has fallen…

A realm inside of a child's mind…

A man with red eyes is always watching…

Toby is the creator of Nerdia. A realm filled with his imaginary friends. All is well until a villainous foe tries to put an end to everything Toby holds dear.

Now, the Nerdians must go on an adventure to stop the evil from spreading to other lands as the threat gets closer. Could there be anything worse?

Find out in this exciting, adventure-filled ebook written by Andrew when he was younger.

What are you waiting for? Go check it out!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zellgertbooks
• Release date: May 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201160821

Andrew Zellgert

Andrew Zellgert is an award-winning science fiction author who primarily writes for children and teens. The topics covered in his work translate the calamities of life into relatable, entertaining allegories. He currently has nine releases spanning from epic intergalactic espionage to chilling dystopian prison life. His latest work, The Adventures of Randy, is a sci-fi trilogy involving time travel, cunning villains, heroic sidekicks, and an intergalactic adventure you will never forget! Join Randy, the restaurant employee as he goes on an allegorical journey through self-discovery. Zellgert is a medalist in the Outstanding Creator Awards of Summer 2022 and was given a five-star review by Reader's Favorite. In his spare time, he loves to read children's books and go for walks in his hometown of St. Cloud Minnesota. You can contact or connect with Andrew Zellgert at: Twitter: @AndrewZellgert Facebook: @zellgertbooks Pinterest: /andrewzellgert Goodreads: Andrew Zellgert All Author: /author/andrewzellgert BookBub: @andrewzellgert

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Andrew Zellgert

Nerdia

First published by Zellgertbooks 2022

Copyright © 2022 by Andrew Zellgert

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Andrew Zellgert asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Third edition

Cover art by RebecaCovers

This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

Find out more at reedsy.com

Contents

Foreword

I. THE STORY OF MODERN LIFE

PROLOGUE

Chapter 1: The Kingdom of Randomness

Chapter 2: Proving Existence

Chapter 3: Talks Around the Table

Chapter 4: The Closet

Chapter 5: The Household

Chapter 6: Educational Dilemmas

Chapter 7: The Phase Space

Chapter 8: Death in The Shadows

Chapter 9: Catastrophe at The Church

Chapter 10: Sketchy Business

Chapter 11: The True Plan

Chapter 12: The Journey

Chapter 13: In the Barrel

Chapter 14: The Ride of Life

Chapter 15: The Company of Heroes

II. WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE

PROLOGUE

Chapter 1: The Life of Mark

Chapter 2: Abduction

Chapter 3: Mysteries

Chapter 4: The Show

Chapter 5: Plans Revealed

Chapter 6: The Mad Insanity

Chapter 7: Henchmen and Leaders

Chapter 8: Backstory

Chapter 9: Flight

Chapter 10: Deepest Treasures

Chapter 11: Change of Heart

Chapter 12: Stones & Symbols

Chapter 13: Faith

Chapter 14: Midnight

Chapter 15: The Ruler of Nerdia

III. THE FUTURE DOMINATION

Prologue

Chapter 1: The Weapon Warning

Chapter 2: The Real World

Chapter 3: The Woman with No Name

Chapter 4: Toby’s Contest

Chapter 5: Stalker

Chapter 6: Crystal Enemy

Chapter 7: The Trap

Chapter 8: Rescue

Chapter 9: Cheats

Chapter 10: Disabling the Bird

Chapter 11: Flashback

Chapter 12: By the Shoreline

Chapter 13: The Enemy’s Fears

Chapter 14: Compaction

Chapter 15: Visions

Chapter 16: Personality Distortion

Chapter 17: Conscious

Chapter 18: Trimming the Excess

Chapter 19: Reflected Reality

Foreword

This is a story I wrote when I was younger and it has been left unedited. I kept the work this way because I want it to stand as a testimony to my first ever story. I feel it would be an insult to my younger self to edit a work as random and epic as Nerdia. So, this book is free for anyone to read and I hope you will all keep an open mind and enjoy the story!

Thanks!

Andrew Zellgert

I

The Story of Modern Life

PROLOGUE

Ahooded figure sat at his desk writing. Writing something. Writing now. He was thinking about all the things he was writing about and all the things that were to come. He thought about his family, his friends, and of course, his cat. The more he wrote, the more he began to realize that his characters were no longer characters anymore. Blood drizzled down the pages when someone died, faint screams could be heard when torture ensued. When the mysterious writer found out these things, he took a new look at what he had written. This thing he had once considered a sport was no longer a sport, but a beloved adventure. Not just a simple, boring adventure where one just wafts through life, but an adventure worth doing. A risk worth taking.

The more the author wrote, the quicker he wrote, the more excited he felt. He loved to create stories. It was God’s gift to him after all, and he absolutely treasured it. He suddenly stopped his work and read over what he had written. Then he frowned. He had always written about knights, fairies, scientists, and aliens, but they were all oblivious to his existence. Did anyone know him? He was just a mysterious person who wrote books. No one needed to know who he was. No one needed to know what his life was like… Little did those people know… Little did they know just what this author got up to and the adventure he would soon have. For life is an adventure and this man was about to have one.

Chapter 1: The Kingdom of Randomness

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom named Nerdia. Nerdia was a fair and decent kingdom with beautiful rolling hills, crystal clear lakes, and a beautiful castle in the middle of it all, appropriately named Nerida Castle. Nerdia Castle was just like any other castle. It was tall, majestic, and had many towers coming out at different angles. Some towers were tall, others were short, some were crooked, and others were straight. The inhabitants of said castle were nothing but strange. There was Miss Princess, who was the Princess of Nerdia; Dr. Mathmatica, who was the smart, intelligent character of the story; Mr. Dumbs, who is always messing things up; then there is King Kindness and Queen Question, The rulers of this powerful domain.

One morning, while the king, queen, and princess were sitting in the throne room, a messenger came in from the south.

My Lords and Ladies! cried the messenger. There have been reportings of no less than four missing people. Two farmers, a guard, and a blacksmith!

The king stood up at once. We are on it! he said. He clapped twice. Dr. Mathmatica! he shouted.

Dr. Mathmatica entered the room. You summoned me, my Lord? he asked.

Yes, we need you to calculate the disappearance of four missing people, said the king.

Already on it, my king! said Dr. Mathmatica. He whipped out a sheet of parchment from his fur coat and began to write on it with what appeared to be a feather quill. After many minutes of frantic writing, he finally said, My Lord, I believe these four people will be found in the Kingdom of Randomness. You know how nosey they are and how much they disregard our people. Plus, the approximate spot of all four disappearances was at these exact locations, he said, referencing his sheet. Therefore, the only place they COULD have been taken would be the Kingdom of Randomness.

Suddenly, Mr. Dumbs stepped out from behind a stone pillar. That sounds inaccurate… he said.

You always say that! snapped Dr. Mathmatica. No one asked for YOUR opinion, anyway!

Will you stop fighting? asked Queen Question.

Yes, it is good to show our appreciation for each other! agreed King Kindness.

Very well… if that is what my king requests… said Dr. Mathmatica.

A man stepped out of a wooden door to the side of the hall. You want to be entertained? asked the man.

Not at this exact moment! said the king. But thank you, Mr. Jester, for the offer. You can try later…

The jester looked at the ground and sighed then slowly exited the room.

The king stood up. We must make haste to the Kingdom of Randomness! he said.

A few minutes later, the king, the queen, the princess, the jester, Mr. Dumbs, and Dr. Mathmatica were all riding horses across the barren landscape. The princess loved the sensation of her hair whipping around in her face. It was almost freeing from the castle life she was leaving behind.

We will make it to the Kingdom of Randomness at dawn! shouted Dr. Mathmatica over the sound of the wind.

Very good! said King Kindness.

They continued to ride until they reached a massive fortress. The top of it was domed and was very clean and pristine. The king dismounted his horse. The rest followed suit.

Do you suppose our missing people are truly in there? asked Queen Question.

Undoubtedly! said Dr. Mathmatica.

It’s unlikely though… said Mr. Dumbs.

Mr. Mathmatica shot him a look, then regained his composure and said to the king, Why did we have to bring HIM along?

Because he is a part of our team, said the King. He can be useful when he wants to.

If you say so… said Dr. Mathmatica. But I invoke the right to grumble about it…

Fine, then, said the king.

He turned to the others. Shall we head in, then? he asked.

Everyone nodded. They quietly pushed open the front door and slowly crept down the dark and cold entryway. They could barely see where they were going, but King Kindness kept them all in a good mood. After rounding a few corners, the group came across a massive ballroom with a pure white piano in the center. The king signaled for everyone to wait, then gestured to the queen to follow. The two of them slowly but steadily tiptoed their way towards the piano. When they reached the lavish instrument, the king slid a finger across the surface.

Remarkable… he whispered.

Is that really what I think it is…? asked the Queen.

Without a doubt, said the King. It’s chocolate.

Why would there be a chocolate piano in the middle of a freezing cold fortress? asked Queen Question.

I have a hunch, but I am unsure… said King Kindness. He knelt down and ran a finger across the floor, then he smelled it. Chocolate, he said.

What could this mean? asked Queen Question.

It means you shall die! said a voice.

The king and queen whirled around. Behind them stood a massive red ant with a crown atop her head.

Who are you? asked the King.

It is I! The Ant Queen! You are in a LOT of trouble! thundered the ant.

Look, we are sorry for invading your fortress, said the king apologetically. You see, some of our own people have gone missing, and—

I stole your people! thundered the Ant Queen. Because they need to be PUNISHED!

The queen frowned. Punished? For what?

For killing millions of my people! screamed the Ant Queen angrily.

The king put his hands up. I think there has been a mistake… he said.

No, there isn’t! While you were on your way here, I was reported that SEVERAL of my colonies were destroyed by YOUR ignorance! shouted the Ant Queen. She clicked her massive thick pincers angrily.

Do you mean anthills? asked Mr. Dumbs off in the distance.

Oh… I see what’s going on here… said the Ant Queen darkly. Killing my subjects isn’t enough for you, is it? You want to kill ME, don’t you? Well, I have got news for you; I am NOT going to allow that… Suddenly, she stood her ground and began to circle the king and queen. I am going to kill you… she said menacingly. Is there anything you want to say before I kill you?

Only that I wish you will not harm any of my subjects… said the King.

Oh, I will certainly harm your subjects… said the Ant Queen. And then I will crush your towns, then your land, and then I will crush your puny little castle. I will not rest until you have been wiped from the face of the world! She squatted for a moment, all legs bent, prepared to jump forward like a spring, but suddenly, a voice rang out behind them.

No! No! No! This isn’t right at all! said the voice.

The Ant Queen froze. The king froze. All heads turned towards a teenaged boy standing in the corner of the room. He was leaning against a wall, shaking his head.

Err… who is that…? asked the Ant Queen, who was completely taken off guard. Is he with you…?

He’s not with us… I thought he was with you… said King Kindness.

The teenager suddenly began to walk towards the king, queen, and the massive ant. Still shaking his head. What an embarrassment, he muttered. As he got closer, the king could see more detail on his face. He had thin black glasses, white skin, and was wearing a black suit with a tie. He didn’t look like he belonged there at all. He appeared out of place.

Hello! he said when he was within arms reach of the king himself. He smiled as if nothing odd was going on. Then he reached out a hand for him to shake. The king hesitated, then shook his hand.

Who are you and what do you want? snapped the Ant Queen.

The teenager casually walked up to the massive ant and said, Me? Nothing. Just spectating… You can carry on doing what you are doing…

How DARE you! shouted the Ant Queen. How dare you boss ME around!

I didn’t boss you around… I just simply told you to continue what you were doing… Unless you don’t want to do that, which that is indeed your choice, but in all honesty, it’s not very entertaining… said the teenager.

Why don’t you head back to your village, said King Kindness to the teenager. He smiled and gave him a nod.

I appreciate the offer, but I would rather stay, said the teenager. You see, I don’t want to make any hasty decisions about this place…

What do you mean by ‘hasty decisions’? asked Queen Question.

Well… You see, I am debating on if I should keep this world or destroy it and start again… said the teenager, chuckling to himself.

The king couldn’t believe his ears. What nonsense is this? No one can do that! he said.

I have heard enough! screamed the Ant Queen. Too many of my people have died and I want REVENGE! She began to charge the teenager clicking her pincers angrily.

The teenager sighed. Then he snapped his fingers and the Ant Queen vanished. If the king had blinked, he would have missed it. One second the ant queen was there, the next second, she was gone.

Chapter 2: Proving Existence

King Kindness stared at the teenager for a long time. Then he finally calmed down and said, You didn’t have to kill her…

The teenager gave him a teenager eye roll and said, Oh, please! I don’t kill people! I merely shifted her out of the world. Do you want me to put her back?

The king stared at him for some time. You… you… you can do that? he asked nervously.

Of course I can! said the teenager. You see, I am the author, creator of this world that you are currently standing in. It’s funny because all of you are nothing but words on a page…

The king flushed and said, How dare you!

It’s true though… said the author. I could alter a simple line of text and completely change who you are, what you are wearing, and your skill sets.

How many fingers are behind my back? asked the king, suddenly putting his hands behind his back and holding up two fingers.

You are holding up two fingers, said the author.

The king was astounded. HOW did you know that?!? he shouted.

Well, I wrote down that you held up two fingers. Therefore, I know you held up two fingers, the author said.

You mean you are mind-controlling us? asked Queen Question.

What dark magic is this? said the king, flailing his arms around.

It isn’t dark magic! It’s called writing! said the author.

Wait a moment… said the king. If we are nothing but words on a page, and this world is nothing but words on a page, then how are you here?

There was a pause then the author said, I have narrated myself into your world so that I can experience what you are experiencing firsthand, said the author.

Prove it! said Mr. Dumbs, who was quickly approaching the author, flailing his fists.

Very well… said the author. Once Mr. Dumbs was within arm’s reach, ready to hit him, the author disappeared, just as quickly as the ant queen had. Mr. Dumbs fists hit open-air and nothing more.

I did it! I did it! I defeated the scoundrel! shouted Mr. Dumbs.

You fool! If what he says is true, he WILL be back! shouted Dr. Mathmatica.

We must be ready for him… said King Kindness. Everyone, huddle up…

Everyone in the room gathered together and began to whisper to each other.

I will knock him out when he rematerializes, said Dr. Mathmatica. You see, if his reaction time is very low, we may be able to subdue him, disabling any magical powers he may possess.

Queen Question shook her head and said, But what if he IS the author and knows what we are going to do? What if he wrote down exactly what we are talking about right at this moment?

You are quite right, of course… said the author as he rematerialized in the middle of the whole group.

The queen screamed, Dr. Mathmatica jumped, Mr. Dumbs tried to hit the author but hit himself instead, but King Kindness shouted, ENOUGH!

He turned to the author and said, Prove it. Prove that you are not some crazy powerful sorcerer. Prove to us you are the author.

The teenager rolled his eyes, Now I know how God must feel, he murmured to himself.

Are you suggesting that you are God? asked Mr. Dumbs.

Don’t be ridiculous! snapped the author. I only have power within this story. Outside of the story, I have no control. That is all in God’s hands. God is WAY more powerful than I will ever be.

But prove it! insisted the King. Prove your existence.

Very well, I shall! said the author. Do you see that staircase over there? he asked, pointing to a staircase in the corner of the ballroom. I dare you to try to walk up it…

I shall! said the king. He began to walk towards the staircase. When he reached the foot of the stairs however, he stopped. OUCH! he roared. From a distance, it looked like nothing had happened, but the king had crashed into some kind of invisible barrier that was blocking him from going up the stairs.

Are you alright, daddy? asked the princess, watching her father in dismay.

Your father’s fine. He is just in shock, said the author smoothly.

The king walked back over to the group. I saw… he said gasping for air. I think I saw my life slipping away from me…

Technically, yes. What you saw was a blank page, said the author. You see, I haven’t written down where that staircase goes yet. Despite it being there, it really goes to nowhere.

I think I finally understand… said the king.

You do? asked Queen Question.

No, you don’t! said Mr. Dumbs.

For serious? asked Dr. Mathmatica.

For serious, said King Kindness. I think I can finally say that this… author…. Is not a foe, but a powerful ally.

Please, call me Toby, said the author.

Very well, Toby, said the king.

Suddenly, there came a screech. All eyes looked up to see black hooded ghosts floating above them, circling them. A loud howling wind began to echo throughout the Ant Queen’s chamber.

What are those… things? shouted Queen Question over