Chronicles of the Wolf: Of Wolves & Spiders

Chapter 23

“Anubis,” I repeated making sure that I had heard exactly what he had said. The old man nodded. “This temple is a temple of Anubis, why does it look like a spider?”

“That, my friend, has to do with the labors of Anubis.” The old man said. “There are eight labors that Anubis left for someone who was worthy to go through. The eight labors involved different labors having to deal with eight different factors of the individual.”

“It was said that the sixth was what you needed to conquer to use what he left to those worthy to challenge the seventh and eighth challenge.” The old man said.

“I see,” I said.

“That sounds awesome,” Walker said.

I looked beyond the empty mural and I saw something that sent a shiver through my spine. Someone had this strange thing on their face and a great dark army followed them marching.

“What the devil is that?” I asked.

“That thing looks like the Mask of Damus,” Osiris said pointing at the thing on the person’s face. “This dark army, this is something I have never seen before. But it looks like if we don’t do something, there are some tough roads ahead.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked.

“Because I believe we can change this,” the old man said.

“What do you mean we can change this?” I asked.

“All these drawings, all they are a possible future.” The old man said. “The fact that Hanuman got you here shows that we can change possible outcomes.”

“But you can see Hanuman there,” I said.

“Yes, however it was not there earlier.” The old man said, and I looked at him confused. “Before Hanuman came here and told me that you were coming here there was a similar wall like this one,” he said as he pointed at the black one. “Over where that creature has an interaction with you.”

“So, your telling me that Hanuman interfering when he did and brought me here it changed this prediction?” I asked, and the old man nodded. “How?”

“Sati made this tapestry as I call it to change and adapt depending on the most likely scenario. When she drew it, it was completely different and even she said that it was one possible outcome.” The old man said and then he pointed at a wall that had nothing but fire.

I looked at the wall and a shiver went down my spine.

“What the devil is that?” I asked.

“That is our possible outcome if we don’t do something,” the old man said, and he motioned at the wall just before the fire wall and we saw a man with the same mask stepping into something that looked like a ship. “Notice something?”

“The same man that has the mask and the shadow warriors is the one that causes this destruction?” Walker said, and the old man chuckled.

“That is quite observant young man,” the old man said.

“So, if we get that mask before that creature does,” Walker said.

“We can stop that destruction from happening,” the old man finished the thought. I looked at him skeptically. “You do not believe it possible?”

“Who is to say that this thing doesn’t already have that mask?” I asked.

“All this happens after this mural where you and I meet,” the old man said pointing at the mural that showed what was evidently the boy, the old man and I meeting just a short while ago.

I could see what the old man meant, the murals were after this point. But was it possible? Could we change a destructive fate?

“Could we really change that?” Walker asked as if echoing my thoughts.

“I told you Hanuman had already changed it,” Osiris said.

“How was it like before?” Walker asked.

“That creature,” Osiris pointed at the silver suited creature in the mural that had me, and this creature drawn on it.

“What about it?” Walker asked.

“That creature at first took that medallion from that girl and killed her.” Osiris said. “The creature then went on to destroy your planet. That all changed, your planet wasn’t destroyed, and you are here.”

“So, my people have not been destroyed?” I asked.

“Not entirely, no.” Osiris said. “They might have been enslaved and displaced.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“If you had an entire race of creatures as strong and as powerful as yours what would you do with them?” The old man said.

“If I were some evil creature I would probably…” I had started. “He made them into slaves,”

“At the very least I believe so,” the old man said.

“So, what happens if we get this mask before this other creature, then what?” I asked.

“We will see what happens.” The old man said. “It is not easy to get to this mask. There are 7 seals to enter the temple of Damus. You must lift the seals to enter the temple.”

“I suppose the seals are still intact and that is how you know that this creature has not gotten the mask yet?” I asked, and the old man nodded. “Tell me what we need to do.”

“The seven seals are scattered throughout this moon. You saw the spire in the distance to the southwest?” the old man asked, and I nodded. “The first seal is there.”

“I see,” I said.

“With it that close I would have felt it being broken.” The old man said.

“Does my brother know about these seals?” Walker suddenly said.

“I do not know,” the old man said. “Damus was one of the careful ones of us Star Builders, this was well known, however I am not sure if it would be known by anyone simply searching for the temple that these seven seals.”

“How do we undo the seals?” I asked.

“It depends,” the old man said. “I am sure there will be some elaborate contraption that blocks an average person to unseal.”

“So, we won’t know until we get there?”

“Indeed,” the old man nodded.

“Very well,” I said. “Where are the other six?”

“Those are scattered throughout the Rhoatian forest.” The old Man said.

“How do we find them?” Walker asked.

“When you break the first seal the others will appear on that map of yours.” The old man said.

Walker pulled out the sliver and looked at it wonderingly.

“Why would it do that?” Walker asked.

“This map picks up a certain frequency,” Osiris said.

“I think you know more than what you are saying about this map.” I said.

“Perhaps I do,” Osiris said.

“Why don’t you enlighten us a little on this?” I asked.

“The only thing I can tell you is that this is but a sliver of a larger map.” Osiris said and before I said anything, he held his hand up. “I wish I can tell you more, however, telling you that, I feel will be telling you a bit too much.”

“Do you not trust us?” Walker said.

“It is not that I don’t trust you,” the old man said. “Its more of a confidentiality regarding certain technologies we once had. This map was created a long time ago to help us find technology that was stolen from us. And I am afraid that is all I can say about it.”

“I could understand why keep it a secret,” I nodded. I half wondered if Lacia had a similar map that was passed down her family that showed her where this medallion was. If that was true though, that meant that the creature that I encountered must have had a similar thing. Thinking about this made me remember about something.

“I am suddenly reminded about something,” I said.

“Which is?” the old man asked.

“Lacia said she was a descendant of Lord Brahma himself.” I said.

“Did she now?” the old man scratching at his long beard.

“Do you know something?” I asked.

“I only knew of one child of Lord Brahma, and that was Tho’mas Methuselah.” The old man said, and Walker nearly jumped when he heard that.

“The Star Eater?!” Walker blurted out,

“The what?” I said.

“Those legends are untrue I can assure you,” the old man said.

“How come I have never heard of this ‘Star Eater?’” I asked.

“You’ve never heard of him?!” Walker said absolutely shocked at the thought. I shook my head. “His legend is told even here, this was where he was captured and imprisoned.”

“That legend holds no truth in it,” the old man said sternly. “Be that as it may, the fact that your friend Lacia as you called her claimed her heritage to Lord Brahma, that is something that may actually be attributed to Methuselah, last I heard he had three children. Zephyr his eldest is here in this system. Kathrynne, his middle child resides in the system of Regel, the third child never was found, but we know it was female.”

“So Lacia could have been this third child?” I asked.

“Either that or an ancestor of hers,” Osiris said.

I suddenly remembered the story that Lacia told me of her ancestor, Kyzl who had been had been allegedly impregnated by Lord Brahma. I wondered if it was Lord Brahma’s son who had done that deal, and Lacia was a descendant of that union.

“That at least makes some sense,” I said nodding.

“Well, I think there has been enough diddle dawdling.” Osiris said. “I think you need to make it to the first seal and make your way to the temple of Damus.”

“Very well.” I said.