Just beneath the surface

The beginning of the End

"Are you sure your nephew isn't just spouting about a random book", Jahmil asked.

"Yeah I'm pretty sure it's the one. My brother told his son well about the book, though I never expected his wife Martha to be so strict on Andres opening it", the Captain replied.

"He has two sons, Santiago the elder, and Andres the younger. Among the two, only Andres could decipher what’s written in the book".

"Then why are we heading further away from their place? Shouldn't we be going there?".

"Apparently he’s on the move. Did you notice that the light of the two stones changed.

Struck with sea sickness, Jahmil didn’t notice it up until then. "You're right." Jahmil expressed with a shame in thought.

"Where could he be headed to?” Jahmil asked, as he probed a map trying to find a location

"Most likely Campeche", Captain Fernando said, as he stared dead ahead into the distance.

The warm sun shone upon the windswept plains of the Yucatan peninsula, grinding the path for a lost boy, aimlessly wandering in the vast wilderness.

"Where am I?" Andres asked himself. His water supply was about to go on a choke, and still no sign of any habitation. Just a village, that was all he could ask for, but there was none. He realised just how secluded their home was, and he became more exhilarated knowing that there was a whole other world with a host of new people to meet. Never before had he felt so free, it felt like he had the world for himself. But, there was no one. Just him in an open plain. There was no clue, nothing to give him a lead to where his quarry was. The sun razed him from head to toe, yet he knew he couldn't just give up after the decision he made. But there he was, at a standstill against a world which already began to daunt him. The trail he followed was one his brother talked of before, as it led to the heart of the peninsula, yet it could barely be considered a trail. Rain, wind, heat, and the growth of plant life altered the terrain, causing the soil around the pathway to erode, making the path barely visible. Andres tried his best to keep track, but his efforts seemed to be in vain. There was a coconut tree in the distance, perhaps a shady respite from the sweltering heat. He checked his bag, took a piece of bread and ate it. He knew he would have to ration or else his food would run out before even arriving at his destination. The soft soil calmed his back from walking all morning. He checked the book once again to see if it had any leads to where the chichen itza was, but there really was nothing. He looked up, and feared the heat of the sun.

"It wouldn't kill me if I rest here wouldn't it?" He asked himself. The wind cooled him off, calming him down. Gently, he stroked the crystal embedded on the book's cover, each stroke getting better than the last. Like a trance, he slowly fell asleep. When he woke up, he realised he had made a big mistake. The sun was now in the west, nearly setting. He knew he had to hurry. He quickly got up, and ran off.

"Young man!" An old man called out. Andres looked back, and saw an old man standing right where he was sleeping.

"Could I ask for food? I could trade it for this blade", the old man said.

"Food for a blade?" Andres thought.

"Sure! But you don't need to give me that sword", Andres replied.

"Oh dear what a kind heart", the old man said. Andres blanked out for a second, and then realised. What a blessing it was!

"Old man, do you know where the Chichen Itza is?" He asked.

"Why would I not, it's where I'm going anyway", the old man replied. Andres rejoiced, he had found a way!

"I know I'm asking too much, but could you use this blade to take a coconut of two from this tree, I have a feeling we'll both need a drink", the old man said.

"Sure, as long as you take me with you to the temple", Andres replied.

"A small price to pay for your help", the old man said. The blade was surprisingly light, it seemed like it was made from wood, yet it was as hard as steel.

"What brings you to the temple young man? Have you come to watch the descent too?" The old man asked.

"Descent?" Andres asked, and then he remembered.

"The descent of Kukulcan, that is why I'm heading there, to witness it. Well, this old body can't walk fast enough anymore, so I ran short of food as I relied on the money I have with me. But then it turns out that I can't eat my money", the old man laughed.

"Well, is it far?" Andres asked.

"Well, can't say we'll be there any sooner, and I do have to admit that with my pace, we'll be walking under the moonlight", the old man replied.

"I see", Andres sighed.

"But fret not young man, once you've been passing the same route again and again and again, neither light nor vision itself will be necessary to find your way, to the price of the lack of fulfilment", the old man explained.

"What do you mean by that?" Andres asked.

"If you go through the same path again and again, the experience will be less enthralling on the next. That was my shortcoming, not realising my dream. Well when I was young I wanted to travel, so I travelled to the chichen itza. But, I limited my viewpoint to a tunnel. I was too scared of finding something else, so I decided to stick with this route, and here I am now", the old man replied.

"I'm telling you this because I see the same spirit in you, the spirit that set me on my quest a long time ago. Before that fire turns the firewood into ash and dies out after being on that pile forever, I'm telling you that once your current journey is over, don't stop there. Find another pile of firewood to set your sights on, and cherish your youth", the old man said.

"You're too far ahead old man, but I promise, I won't stop exploring this world. The fact that I met you is a sign that fate is on my side", Andres replied.

"Now then, I suppose it's time we get going", the old man said.

"By the way, when does the descent happen?" Andres asked.

"Tomorrow afternoon", the old man replied.

"T-tomorrow?" Andres asked.

He noticed that aside from a bag, the old man brought a mirror.

"What's that mirror for, old man?" Andres asked.

"Oh, it's the mirror my wife would look at every morning. At Least before she went ahead of me. Well it reminds me of her face, her beautiful face", the old man replied.

They walked across the plains, to the temple looming behind the cover of the trees in the distance.

The day was a stalemate for Andres, as the hooded man hadn't shown up. The clock was ticking, and with whatever sorcery the hooded man had, he should've been there any minute now. The Chichen Itza was as grand as the talk, a pyramid shaped temple that seemed to carry the weight of the sun on its pinnacle. The old man had already been off to chat with his acquaintances, and he left Andres with the blade. Though he tried his best to stop the old man from giving the blade to him, the old man insisted and gave the blade to Andres.

"If you won't use it that's fine by me, just pass it on to someone who CAN use it", the old man said.

"Well, not a pain if I sell it, this would be worth a lot", Andres thought. Still, he couldn't shake off the feeling of nervousness. Last night, he had another terrifying dream. He couldn't describe it, but it felt like a million souls gushed from the gemstone embedded in the book. Each filled with malice and hatred, all pushing down on a castle, the same one he would see in every single one of his nightmares. When they were done with the castle, they rushed towards him and strangled him, choking him, and breaking his bones bit by bit. He didn't understand what this dream meant, but he was certain that the castle in the middle of a city that he would see in every dream was the lost citadel of Atlantis.

Noon was approaching, and the sun was high on it's peak.

"How long does he want me to wait?" Andres asked himself, trying his best to convince himself that he wasn't led into some farce.

"I swear, the first thing this blade runs through is going to be him", he thought.

"Now, now I don't think it will be time for that", the hooded man said, standing behind Andres.

"Goodness what took you so long?" Andres asked.

"I never said a specific day, I just said 'when the time comes', didn't I", the hooded man said.

"Well, the descent of Kukulcan is the best time to do the ritual because people won't be suspicious of us nearing the temple", he continued.

"Ritual?" Andres asked.

"This temple is an altar of sacrifices, the perfect place for a ritual. To connect the three pages of the trinity map, the ritual must be performed", the hooded man replied. Andres looked down and noticed something strange on the gem embedded on the book's cover. The tip facing west glowed brightly. He tried rotating the book, yet it remained west, like a compass.

"The other two books are in that direction, and that means it won't be long before you meet your kin", the hooded man said.

"Well, I suggest we talk inside, it's too noisy out here", he continued, leading Andres to a c***k in the side of the temple. After the hooded man cast a spell, the c***k split like a hinged door and opened up, revealing a spiralling flight of stairs beneath.

"It's better if we continue waiting down here", the hooded man said. The stairs led to an underground chamber adorned with sculpted pillars and painted walls.

"Few know of this chamber. It's the only part of the temple wherein a sacrifice is not needed in order to perform a ritual", the hooded man explained. Andres was astounded by the chamber, it really felt like he was now on an adventure. All he needed to do now was to wait for the other two.

"Tea? This came from England, and it's rather one to savour if I should say", the hooded man said.

"What kind of sorcery do you use? How do you do that weird disappearance and reappearance of things?" Andres asked.

"Something you can't comprehend, as of now, for the meantime just enjoy the tea. It won't be long before the others arrive", the hooded man replied.

"Well the tea is great!", Andres remarked.