• Chapter 20: The Cult in Zincnathos Mountain

    The island of Zincnathos was mainly the base of Zincnathos Mountain, an extinct volcano. The island’s terrain is mainly a rolling plain with a few trees and small orchards about.
    On the western tip of the island was the city of Zincnathos. It was mainly a city where technology and agriculture merge to really help in the olive oil and other agriculture in that part of the Ionized-Ionian Islands and abroad. This city, like Emerald Kavala, had a temple to Demeter.
    However, when the five heroes made it to the city, the situation was tragic. Black cloths were about, and the people were in mourning.
    Galina approached one person and asked, “What tragedy has befallen this city, friend?”
    The person, a female Dwarf, replied, “The soon to be death of our governor’s son. The evil cult which dwells within Zincnathos Mountain had long taken children from our city as sacrifices to the twisted deity they worship. And now, the governor’s son has been taken as the most recently demanded offering.”
    “We have to help this land and stop this cult!” said Zanthe.
    Rouvin said, “You and I can take on the cult! We must try!”
    Valerius replied, “Nauplius, Galina, and I can defend the city if any cult members return!”
    “Where is the cult located?” asked Zanthe.
    The dwarf lady said, “They are in a cavern in Zincnathos Mountain. The cave entrance is on the southwest part of it. Be warned—even the trail upward is greatly guarded, and even its’ lowest-ranking members are skilled in magic.”

    The two elves ran across the plains and made it to the extinct volcano that was Zincnathos Mountain. The gray and tan rocks that made up its mountain walls glistened in the mid-afternoon sun. A pale yellow-tan trail led up to the cavern entrance, which was two-thirds of the way up the mountain.
    But as the dwarf lady warned, cult members guarded the trail well. The moment Rouvin and Zanthe got within sight of the first slope up the trail, three cult members, dressed in pale green robes and black robe belts, emerged from smoke, with orbs of magic in their hands ready to fire at them.
    “Looks like the welcoming committee!” joked Rouvin as he got his bow out.
    “We’ll teach them a lesson!” said Zanthe as she prepared her staff.
    Rouvin shot one of the cult members before he could fire off his magic ball. The other two were able to fire their shots, but Zanthe summoned up a giant stone hand which caught the balls and crushed them back into sparkles. Then Zanthe returned fire with her own magical bolts.
    However, this scuffle then triggered a couple more cult members to come down the mountain, firing at them as they ran.
    Rouvin said, “I guess this is going to be harder than we first thought!”
    “We can still take them!” replied Zanthe.
    At that, Rouvin shot a few of them running down, while Zanthe summoned some mud golems to march up and swat away the enemies. The few that remained retreated into the cavern.
    “We must warn the high priest!” said one of the cult members as they ran.

    Back in the city of Zincnathos, Valerius, Nauplius, and Galina soon met the governor of the island. He was a human with tan skin, black hair, and brown eyes. He wore something that looked like the attire of a Roman governor, but with hints of modern Greek.
    “Hello there,” said the governor. “My name is Governor Thessalos Psevdargyros.”
    Valerius replied, “I am Valerius Magnitis, of Paxotassia. With me are my friends Nauplius Sideras and Galina Thyella.”
    Galina explained, “Our friends, Rouvin Koukounari and Zanthe Sfendami, have gone to Zincnathos Mountain to confront the cult and save your son.”
    The governor’s face lit up with cheer.
    “That is good news indeed!” said Governor Psevdargyros. “Soon, my son, Brontes, will be returned to me.”
    “Why is this cult constantly stealing your city’s children?” asked Nauplius.
    The governor answered, “Because they were needed for their dark rituals to Hecate—well, a distorted version of her magic side. Since children were often seen as full of energy, they would drain the life out of them and convert them into magical energy for their power.”
    Valerius was stunned to hear this.
    “Rouvin, Zanthe,” whispered Valerius as he looked afar. “Be careful out there.”

    The two elves soon made it to the cavern. Both old-style torches and new-style electrical lights were in the cavern to light the way. The statues and carvings—made to look like a version of the underworld—were so ornately made that it was difficult to tell what was natural and what was man-made. But both cases showed that it was meant to represent the realm of the dead within the land of the living.
    The two heard some chanting, followed by a child’s cry for help.
    “That voice!” whispered Zanthe. “It must be the governor’s son!”
    “We better hurry!” replied Rouvin.
    The two ran down the tunnels. It was strange that there were no guards, but this mattered little.
    Soon they arrived in a large chamber. The two gasped to see a young human boy chained to a large idol of Hecate. The young boy was in a gray t-shirt and black shorts, but was barefoot. He was light tan in complexion, with black hair, and heterochromatic eyes—his left eye was gray, and his right eye was tan.
    “We must act quickly!” said Zanthe.
    “I’ll distract the cult members,” said Rouvin. “You save the boy!”
    “Got it!” said Zanthe.
    Rouvin loaded an arrow and started shooting random cult members.
    “We’re under attack!” said one of the members when he saw some of his brethren struck.
    Zanthe quickly cast a teleport spell while everyone was distracted.
    She motioned with her mouth for the boy to stay quiet. Then, tapping each shackle on the boy’s wrist, she freed the youngster. Finally, she carefully picked up the child in her arms and cast the teleport spell out again.

    The three were about to leave the cavern, but the cult leader soon appeared near the entrance. And he was very angry.
    The cult leader wore an emerald green robe, to distinguish him from his underlings, as well as a black and gold rope belt. With his hood down, he was seen to be a dark elf with a pale gray complexion, was bald, and had glowing violet-red eyes.
    “Hold there, interlopers!” said the cult leader. “You will not stop us from replenishing our power over this island. In the name of Hecate, we will stop you!”
    “Your distorted form of Hecate does not convince us!” said Zanthe, with her staff ready. “We WILL return this boy to his father!”
    The cult leader laughed and prepared a large sphere of energy to aim at them, but Zanthe prepared a special spell.
    When the leader launched the sphere, Zanthe pointed her staff at it. A large hand with a stone tennis racquet appeared from the cavern floor and swatted it back at the leader!
    “What the Tartarus?!” yelled the leader as the orb returned to him. It would be his last words, as the orb consumed him and disintegrated him.
    The cavern soon rumbled. Zanthe again picked up the young boy, and the two elves carried him out of the collapsing cavern. It was doubtful many cult members got out in time. But what mattered was the turmoil they caused was over.

    Valerius looked into the distance and saw Rouvin and Zanthe carrying the child into the city.
    “Governor!” said Valerius. “Our friends have returned with your son!”
    The crowd cheered as Rouvin and Zanthe brought the governor’s son back him.
    Governor Thessalos wept with joy as he ran to his son.
    “Brontes, my boy!” the governor said as he scooped up his son in his arms.
    “Daddy,” said Brontes. “These two saved me.”
    “I am forever grateful to you,” said the governor. “I’d say this calls for a celebration.”
    “Indeed,” replied Rouvin. “Not only is your son safe, but the cult has been stopped for good. Your island is now free of their bane.”