Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Chapter 3
Finding Raphael part 2

I waved to Dren and took another sip from vial, “1st division gate!” I bellowed. I disappeared and reappeared in front of Zanel’s division gate. I looked up and before me stood a behemoth of a monster. “Who are you?!” I yelled hoping my voice would reach his ears. He looked down at me with a puzzled look. I hope someone told him I was coming. “Who am I? I am Zanel’s gate keeper. Who are you?” They hadn’t told him. “I am Gabriel, and my entrance has been requested by The Order.” I said. “May I see your key?” he yelled even though he should only have to whisper since he was so large. I waved the key in the air so he would see it. “Good, very good.” He said as he took the tiny key in his hands stuck it into the keyhole. “Be quick because the key will disappear and you can’t come back through this way, unless the door is still open.” I looked at my vial Mitch gave me and it looked like I had one dose left. I have no need to worry then, I thought to myself. I ran in and waved at the giant and smiled.


I was maybe ten minutes from when I had left the giant and I had been pondering how much had changed since I was last here. A rustle in the bush caught my attention. I withdrew my sword and stepped over to the noisy bush.

I little elf crawled out, a girl, a really small girl. To think I was about to kill whatever was in the bush…good thing I didn’t. I know that wouldn’t settle well with Renka. The little elf saw my sword and darted back for the bush. “No! Come back here!” I said as I grabbed the end of her shirt and dragged her back. “Your okay, I’m not going to hurt you!!” Jeez she’s strong. I finally just picked her up by the collar of her shirt. “Hey I’m looking for a guy named Raphael, have you seen him?” She started wailing and sobbing. “Oh no, I’m sorry! I put her back on the ground hoping she wouldn’t run away. She just stared at me, it was odd silence.

I sat on my knees to where I was about her level, maybe a bit taller. I reached into my sack that dangled near my sword’s sheath and pulled out some apples. “Here, have some apples, you look a little hungry.” She stared at it and reluctantly took a bite. She looked up and smiled. I reached into my sack again searching for a picture of Raphael. I found it and pulled it out. “Have you seen a guy that looks like this?” She studied it for a few minutes then grabbed my hand and started running. I could have sworn something fell out of my sack but I just guessed it was an apple and didn’t mind it.

We ran for about seven minutes or so and we came to a village, but the child didn’t stop running she ran right through it and into a small hut. She let go of my hand and ran into a room. I examined the room and it had some woven carpet patches, a small contained fire and other materials you would find in a standard house. The girl reappeared with another elf behind her it was a boy, maybe her brother. I turned around to see how many huts I saw. There weren’t very many, enough to make a small village. I felt a tug on my hair and saw the little elf and her brother started whispering and pointing at the picture. The boy nodded and looked at me. “I’ve seen that old geezer before.” He said. I was distraught! Some little kid called my master a geezer! However, he said he’s seen him before so I can’t really complain, he might not tell me were he was.

He walked out the hut and I followed him until we found a massive wall blown in between where the 1st and 4th division met. I examined the site more carefully to find and incantation written around the circle. Raphael’s writing, definitely. I could only make out a few words of the incantation because it was written in old eleven language. Mostly forgotten but old spells require such and Raphael was always a spell worm. I doubted that even the children knew the language.

Five sheets of seven inch steel separated each division. So Raphael must have made a strong incantation spell to blow through it like it was tissue paper. I look through the hole blown in the wall and jeez…this guy knows how to get around. I climbed right on into the hole and out I popped into the 4th division.

I turned around to wave at the elves to thanks them, but the little boy was gone, his sister was in his place just standing. She had a sad look on her face, like she wanted to come with me. I told myself I wouldn’t take anybody…curse Raphael “Always treat others with generosity and kindness.” He reminded me. I scooted over to her and got back on me knees. “You want to come don’t you?” she looked around like she was trying to avoid answering, but eventually nodded her head in agreement. Ok, well let’s go back; you’re going to need a few things. She grabbed my hand and led me back to her hut. She ran over to her mother and jerked at her hair enough to get her attention.

Her mother glanced down and looked at her child, she smiled and handed her a fresh piece warm bread. She ate it quickly then ran to her room. She hopped back out dressed in a more out-door outfit. She had a small dagger tied to her waist, along with a small sack filled with various potions, shrubs, and food.