The Wizards of Xitt

The Aedes Triathlon

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The Aedes Triathlon

The crowd was already cheering when Kaila entered the strange stadium. The place was as big as an entire city and as varied too. Even Kaila could not make out its extents from the floating cusps of seat that served as stands for spectators.

The part of the stadium directly below the stands was a frozen lake. Upon it stood a golden stool with a translucent luminous cup. The cup was the ultimate prize of the Aedes Triathlon.

As usual, Kaila was saddled in with Muriel while Igor and his beloved Virgill were seated at the foremost seat. Their stand was the most central and glamorous in design. It was cast in glass crystals and shaped like a rose flower, unduly forced to open up its whorls. Like Grendel Stade, there were also Holographic screens in the stands.

Kaila had barely settled when he saw Elizabeth Fille coming towards him. She looked very purposeful and it seemed, nothing could deter her from whatever resolve she had made.

“When is it?”

Kaila knew exactly what she was asking but pretended not to. “When is what?”

“The day out.” Elizabeth responded bluntly.

Kaila felt cornered. “Tomorrow,” he blurted out without much certainty. “But, I’ll have to speak to the Suprema about it.” He added childishly.

“Don’t worry; I’m very sure the Suprema won’t mind?” Elizabeth assured him. She motioned to Muriel who readily gave up her seat.

Elizabeth sat down proudly turning a grateful smile to Muriel. Muriel took the next seat and gave Kaila a mischievous smile. It was clear that she did not want to get in the way of anything.

“So officially, welcome to Atlantis Mr. Maentel.” Elizabeth said putting forth her hand.

“That’s unofficial.” Kaila corrected her. “Who better than the Suprema himself to welcome me officially.?” He shook her all the same.

Elizabeth caught the drift and smiled. “Well, as foreign secretary, I also have that right.”

“When the Suprema is not around, yes.”

“So what do you know about the Aedes Triathlon?” Elizabeth changed the discussion on seeing she was not going to win the argument.

“Nothing as of now.” Kaila replied.

“Well, then you are in for a treat. The Aedes Triathlon is the most sinister of all the games of the Olympiad. It is older than the Olympiad, older than Atlantis itself.” She said offhandedly. “It is a game that was played by the gods, and all we know of its history is what was passed down to us by the gods, as is scripted in the ancient temples of Poseidon.”

A commentator’s voice came up through the sound system. The screen popped up a short bald cheeky man by a brassy table.

“...Welcome everyone, my name is Eifa Tarique. You’re welcome once again to this One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Olympiad in the blessed year of our lord Poseidon- You’re welcome to the main event, the Aedes Triathlon!”

The crowd burst into shouts of joy.

“As always, there are no rules, no requirement! Only one feeble command; survive longer than the rest!”

The shouts continued. The screen soon filled up with five stone-faced men. They were not as angelic as one would expect of Atlanteans.

“Look at them!” Elizabeth snorted. Muriel was seated quietly watching the screen. She did not fancy the game as much as she fancied dragon skiing.

“The only place where criminals have honour.” Elizabeth continued in the somber tone.

Kaila did not understand, he did not want to probe further.

“Well, there you have the finalists, our gods to be!” Tarique said in a voice that was further amplified by the sound system. “Here at the green gate is Grendel Jon, representing the brave and mighty Mineseus, god of Youth and Vigor.”

The crowd cheered.

“And by the blue gate is Clauden Mortis, representing the passionate and peace loving Amphyn Morpheus, the god of peace and love!”

The crowd cheered again.

Elizabeth hissed. “Ex-convict.”

“At the yellow gate is Elden Briscoe, representing the powerful Marto!”

A section of the crowd nearest Kaila shouted loudest.

“And at the red gate is Liam Engore...”

Elizabeth looked suddenly alarmed; her eyes were fixed to the screen trying to make out the face of Liam. She was also taking in quick breaths as if the air around suddenly, did not have enough oxygen.

“...representing the proud and prudent Atlas.”

Igor and Virgill too turned confused glances her way. They however looked relief on looking beyond her.

“He’s not the one ma. That’s Liam Engore.” It was Muriel, and she stressed on the ‘Engore’

Relief flooded past Elizabeth’s face, washing off all the lines that had suddenly appeared. She was once again the woman Kaila knew.

“Behind you ma.” Muriel said.

Elizabeth turned, Kaila could feel her spirit lift at once. Kaila knew Liam had to be behind them. It seemed so, because Elizabeth returned her eyes to the screen a little distracted.

“And finally, on the black gate is Riben Greco, representing the dark and mighty land of Xitt.”

Fewer people applauded than for the others.

“There they are. We only hope they will change the dwindling fortunes of this game.”

Then there was a mighty roar that echoed through the stands. It definitely was not the roar of a lion, something fiercer.

“And the games have begun!”

The crowd cheered loudly.

The men were seen forcing open the gates and marching into a very dark tunnel.

“See them, as if they will survive.” Elizabeth said casually.

“What do you mean by that?” Kaila asked puzzled.

“The last time there was a survivor from Aedes place was three Olympiads ago.” Elizabeth supplied, she was still distracted.

“I don’t understand.”

“The Aedes Triathlon is not about survival.”

“Then how do winners emerge.”

“By being further than your opponents, if and when you finally fall. The glory is yours; Aedes temple will bear your body forever. But the points accruing from it goes to your nation, and oftentimes the Olympiad shell itself.” Elizabeth said turning a dreamy eye at Kaila. “Problem is, oftentimes, the bodies are never found.”

“And people are still playing it?”

“Who doesn’t want to be a god; Aedes Conqueror.” Elizabeth smiled turning a glance back. “According to the ancient writings on the temple of Poseidon, Aedes was a goddess of unknown origin and form, a jealous admirer of Atlas and maid to Poseidon. She served Poseidon well and in return, Poseidon rewarded her with this portion of land to govern. She loved Atlas so much and someday went to visit him. She found him in his courtyard surrounded by mortal women. So great was her rage and jealousy that on reaching home, she accidentally destroyed her place and people. She turned to rearing wild and dangerous animals. From time to time, she erupted mountains and caused earthquakes on the city of Atlas.”

On the five-grid screen, one of the men emerged from the seemingly endless tunnel; Elden Briscoe of Marto.

“In a bid to stop the disasters on his people Atlas met an oracle who told him the problem was Aedes. He sent his men to Aedes, but Aedes sent them back with a message. That if anyone would ever cross Aedes place from end to end, she will leave Atlas alone.” Her eyes drifted backwards again. “Centuries passed, no one succeeded, even other gods from far places. Until one day, Atlas tricked Aedes to his bed. He left her there and went to steal his father’s six-winged horse chariot. With it, he flew over Aedes place from end to end... Aedes kept her own part of the bargain, but then she disappeared with Atlas.”

On the screen, almost all the men have emerged from the dark tunnel. Some of them were still re-adapting to the bright light, when some huge fierce-looking animals resembling hippopotamus rushed out of the forest at them.

“Tyrex, that’s the first helper.” Elizabeth said.

“Helper?” Kaila could not help himself.

“Typically, Aedes sets three traps. She keeps one of her pet animal in each of the traps to help one through. And believe me, without them, there’s no way of surviving.”

Kaila watched the animal that was meant to help someone across what looked like a simple forests. The animal was sturdy in build with strong limbs. It was quadrupedal, but ran erect with two four-hoofed legs. It had a large wide head that seemed to be made of iron. The skin was definitely bullet-proofed; it was over a dozen layers thick and made of materials that shone like steel.

On the five-grid screen, the men had all taken to their heels. Clauden Mortis however was not running in the direction of the others, he had doubled back into the tunnel. The Tyrex chasing him hit its head against the entrance into the tunnel. Apparently, the tunnel was too small for it. The Tyrex tried entering until it hurt itself. It then let out a sound that reached the stands as a deep hum.

“Infrasound is the most powerful weapon a Tyrex possesses. It is a low-frequency sound that scrambles the brain of those around it in seconds. Over large distances, its lethal power reduces...”

Clauden Mortis rolled out death, cutting Elizabeth off.

Every stand went very quiet.

Tarique seized the opportunity to become audible again. “And that’s our first casualty. Clauden Mortis.”

There was an unusual sound from the crowd as the Tyrex walked up to Clauden. It began to tear Clauden apart, ready to make a meal of him.

Kaila felt like throwing up, he looked away.

Elizabeth placed a hand on his shoulder. “The Tyrex are carnivorous, they are a stray evolution of an ancient dinosaur , the Triceratops. They feed on anything with flesh. But that’s the fun part of it. If you want to become immortal and you can’t. sometimes, you become less than a mortal.”

“And so the candle of the Passionate Amphyn goes out.” Tarique said, the grid had already gone blank.

The remaining competitors were still running for their lives. The Tyrex was almost catching up with Liam Engore. Liam found a c***k in the ground just in time and slipped under it. The Tyrex scratched frantically at it but without success. Riben Greco disappeared just in time, as one of the tree-hoofed hands tore his gown. Grendel Jon turned so fast that that the Tyrex ran past him. He then found a hedge and hid behind it.

Elden Briscoe was still giving his Tyrex considerable distance. He made a quick decision, began to slow down. The Tyrex caught up with him, and just as the Tyrex put out its hand to strike, Briscoe turned out of the way, produced a sword with which he struck at the Tyrex with all his might. The sword slices through the Tyrex thick skin to its ribs.

Most of the crowd rose and shouted.

The Tyrex staggered. Briscoe realized his mistake and began to run as fast as he could... The Tyrex let out a big yell

Time stood still. Briscoe stopped in his tracks and crumbled to the floor, dead.

The sound reached the stands as a deep rumble of thunder. It echoed, shook the cusps and died away.

The Tyrex staggered round, then fell, whimpering. The back of its head reflected the sun. Kaila could see that there was something like a mirror there. Soon, the grid went blank.

“Next casualty, Elden Briscoe of the Martan people. He died like the Powerful Marto would love to see.”

The three remaining grids became more enlarged. The three Tyrex were still wandering where their quarry went.

A man walked up to Kaila from behind the stands. He offered Kaila a hand. “You must be Kaila Maentel?”

Kaila looked up at him surprised. He shook the man’s hand nonetheless. “And you are?”

“Liam Enga.” The man supplied crisply.

“Oh!” Kaila exclaimed.

“Oh?” Liam c****d an eyebrow at him.

“I’m sure the name has come up somewhere.” Kaila said, convincing himself more than convincing Liam.

“It sure has,” he turned briskly to Elizabeth. “Can I have a word Elizabeth?”

Elizabeth looked confused; she looked to Kaila for help.

Liam took note, but Kaila urged her on all the same.

“One moment.” Elizabeth said to Kaila and followed Liam to the back of the cusp.

Kaila turned just in time, as the hedge behind which Grendel Jon hid began dragging him towards the forest. The Tyrex noticed the movement. It turned and ran towards the hedge. The hedge quickened its pace in fright, and just as it neared the forest, it dropped off Grendel. Grendel just managed to roll off the Tyrex’s path, as the Tyrex came slamming into the thick forest.

The trees apparently, were some sort of life forms that were afraid of a Tyrex. They scrambled away from the Tyrex’s path, screaming, falling over one another.

Grendel followed closely behind the Tyrex.

Kaila leaned close to Muriel. “What trees are those?”

“Wild elves. They are carnivorous in nature and can move great distances.” Muriel replied.

Kaila could now understand why the Tyrex served as the helper. Without them, it would be utterly impossible to go through a forest of carnivorous trees.

Liam Engore threw a stone towards the trees. The tree that was hit moved out of the rest and turned its branches to touch where it was hit.

The Tyrex noticed the movement and turned towards the trees. The tree scampered in fright pushing away the other trees. Confusion ensued; the Tyrex doubled up towards the forest. Liam emerged from the hole and ran towards the Tyrex.

Riben Greco found some magical means of disturbing the quiets of the trees. The Tyrex turned on them, bounding at full speed. Riben reappeared behind the Tyrex and followed it into the forest.

“The elves are afraid of a Tyrex because the infrasound of a Tyrex, when close enough, paralyzes them.” It was Muriel’s unwarranted detail.

Kaila turned to Grendel’s grid on the screen. The Tyrex had just veered off course. Grendel was still thinking of a plan when the elves began to close in on him. One of them grabbed him by the arm, another one bit him on the leg. He managed to get to his sword and sliced through the air erratically, cutting parts of the elves.

The elves tracked back sprinkling their transparent blood everywhere. One of the elf was somewhat stubborn; it trotted towards him, and knocked off the sword from his hand easily. Terrified, Grendel dropped to the squatting position. Fortunately, he found an opening. He made for it just as the elf moved in on him again. He made it and ran as far as his legs could carry him. Some of the elves bounded after him beyond the edge of the forest. Grendel kept the pace until he could not feel them behind him again.

Liam followed the Tyrex until they were almost at the end of the forest of elves. He withdrew his sword, jumped on the Tyrex and struck it directly under the head bone. The Tyrex fell, dead without a sound. Liam then cut out a part of the Tyrex head bone, the part bearing the mirror-like substance. Afterwards he sliced his way through the remaining elves.

Riben made some incantations running his hand around his head. He then drew his sword and jumped on the Tyrex, he failed to get a grip and tumbled to the ground

The Tyrex stopped in its track and turned on him.

Riben closed his eyes and lay still. Then just as the Tyrex brought its three-hoofed hand down on him, he rolled sidewards, and buried his sword on the Tyrex throat.

The Tyrex fell making a feeble sound.

Some of the elves around were paralyzed, and something like a halo was briefly visible over Riben’s head.

It took some time for Riben to rise from the ground. He staggered to the Tyrex, cut off the head bone and hopped over the paralyzed elves out of the forest.

Elizabeth returned after a while.

Kaila sat well to allow her sit.

“That was my ex-husband.” Elizabeth started off once she had Kaila’s attention.

“That’s great.”

“You know, we were married for over a century... But have you ever felt that something won’t work no matter how hard you try?”

“I think I know the feeling.” Kaila said the first thing that came to his mind. He braved her lulling glassy stare.

“And yet you keep trying?” She seemed miserable.

Kaila found that he was falling for her confusion now, than all the flirtations she had hauled at him from his first day in Atlantis. He took her hand. “Doors do not only open with keys, they also open when the right pressure is applied. Worst of all is, they also open with too much pressure.”

Elizabeth was about to say something either too nice, or too foolish. But a particular noise tore their eyes from each other and threw it at the screen.

Kaila shuddered at the sight. A huge rooster-like animal with a long triangular tail was up on the screen. It bore pure white feathers and had large golden orbs for eyes. The eyes were so bright that even through the somewhat darkened screen, they still had a dizzying effect.

“Cockatrice!” Elizabeth mouthed.

Kaila could not believe his eyes or his ears. This was not happening.

The cockatrice was walking towards a set of trees, and as it passed, the trees turned to ashes without catching fire.

The feeds on the screen cut to a breathless Grendel, just behind the still standing trees. Soon the trees were turning to ashes. Grendel stood up and ran for his dear life.

The cockatrice bounded after him, hopping from foot to foot.

“Don’t look!” Elizabeth was shouting.

Kaila remembered all the c**k and bull stories he had heard or read about the cockatrice. Accordingly, the creature had never been seen and is thought to have live and died in the Twelfth Century AD. It was believed that the gaze and breath of a cockatrice brought instant death.

On the screen, it was obvious that Grendel was not expecting a cockatrice. He was running like someone who had no plan, and at that moment, he had none.

Grendel ran as far as his legs could carry, until he got to the edge of a very large canyon. He stopped and the screen picked up a very large fire burning inside the canyon.

Kaila held his breath and so did everyone else. Grendel had run out of ideas, and tracks. Even he knew that death was near.

Grendel turned and immediately his eyes melted. He staggered backwards and plunged into the fiery canyon.

The whole stadium went quiet. The cockatrice came to a halt and the camera feeding the screen focused on it.

Kaila wondered what was so interesting about the Aedes Triathlon. Game of the gods my foot! He hissed.

The grid went blank. Tarique announced the usual. “Casualty number three, Grendel Jon of the brave men and women of Mineseus.”

Elizabeth leaned close. “In the Olympiad before last, the cockatrice as the first helper. Nobody got past it.”

Kaila swallowed. He knew that unless there was a miracle, none of the competitors were likely to get past it.

The two remaining grid came to lie, side by side, taking up the whole screen. Liam and Riben were trotting cautiously forwards, holding out the head bone of the Tyrex like weapons.

Liam stopped short; he could sense the approach of the cockatrice. He snapped his eyes shut, took a deep breath and started running towards the canyon.

The cockatrice ran after him, the creature was considerably close by the time he got to the canyon’s edge.

Liam threw the Tyrex head bone as far as he could over the canyon. The cockatrice looked, got its reflection from the mirror. One of its eyes began melting. The cockatrice seemed dazed, spread its wings.

Liam produced a long rope from his gown, and threw it at the cockatrice as the creature bolted into the air. The rope caught at the creature’s spiny tail. Liam clung to it and was lifted over the canyon. Halfway through though, the ropes untied and Liam fell.

The crowd which had become noisy, became very quiet. For a brief moment, it seemed Liam had plunged into the fiery canyon.

The camera feeding the screen cut to the cockatrice. The creature had landed beside the Tyrex head bone. It had already scorched both eyes and a good deal of its face from its reflection in the Tyrex head bone. The creature soon began scratching at the scorched parts of its body, beating its tail wildly about. It became exhausted but still frantically in motion.

Suddenly, the camera swept towards the edge of the canyon which seemed to be falling from time to time. A hand landed, another landed; someone was crawling out of the canyon.

The crowd burst into cheers and shouts of joy.

Liam rose to his feet and shook his head at the exhausted cockatrice. He drew his sword and buried it in the throat of the beast. The beast staggered, then, fell.

The crowd’s voice seemed to be magically amplified.

Liam retrieved his sword and trotted forward.

Riben meanwhile was still battling his cockatrice. He had turned into a weasel and was using some form of magic to withstand the cockatrice golden orbs of an eye. The cockatrice was approaching menacingly, the weasel was still crowing. So far, it seemed the crow of the weasel was not affecting the cockatrice as expected.

The cockatrice almost reached the weasel Riben before he disappeared. Riben reappeared behind the cockatrice. He produced the head bone of the Tyrex, shew it to the cockatrice and then threw it over the canyon.

The cockatrice spread its wings and flew towards the Tyrex head bone. Riben produced a rope from his finger. With it, he got attached to the cockatrice’s tail and was flown over the canyon.

Kaila was genuinely confused. He turned to Elizabeth. “I don’t get it- Riben could use some magic to scale the fiery canyon.”

Elizabeth smiled; the kind of smile a teacher gives her favorite student. “No magic can work against the barriers or helpers.”

Kaila nodded, he got it. Only natural strength, skill and luck could get one through Aedes traps.

A cheer from some people in the crowd made Kaila return his attention to the screen. His eyes were beginning to linger of their own accord over the edges of Elizabeth’s deep cut gown.

Elizabeth made an exclamation of displeasure, as she returned to the screen too.

Apparently, Riben was standing over the slain cockatrice.

Kaila turned abruptly to Elizabeth. It took a full beat before he spoke. “Why do the Atlantean people dislike Riben so much?”

“Because he’s from Xitt. Most people don’t trust them, I’m among such...” She said it a firmness that suggested hatred. “The whole lot of them are wizards, and believe me, wizards can never be good.”

Riben retrieved his sword neatly from the slain beast. He cleaned the sword with a piece of cloth, and walked away.

Tarique’s voice suddenly rose above all the noises in the stadium. “And so, we are down to last of the Aedes traps. Fortunately, we still have two men standing. Maybe, this is one of those years when a living god would be made.”

Kaila could barely hear his own heartbeat as the screen revealed an exhausted Liam. He was at the edge of a large dark lake. A very cold lake, if the large icebergs drifting carelessly over its surface was anything to go by. Across the lake, was a transparent golden object, casting a golden halo about itself.

The camera feeding the screen zoomed in on the object; the Aedes cup.

“And there is it, the Aedes cup.” The excited voice of Tarique resonated over the public address system. “Now only the deep icy cistern of Aedes and whatever it holds separates Liam Engore from becoming a god!”

The crowd became wild ad probably deafened. Kaila was sure they could not hear themselves.

It did not take a long time for a running Riben to reach the edge of the lake too.

“And there’s the Xittan. I can bet my bottom Quinta, that there will be survivors today!”

Riben halted briefly as his feet hit the water. On second thought, he threw his hand in the air, performed some magic and entered the water.

Liam waited patiently by the lake, troubling the water with his foot from time to time.

Riben kept going, Soon, the water covered him. The screen held on the rippling water until an underwater feed came up.

Riben was still going; he had developed slits on the side of his neck and was breathing through them. There was no doubt if he was cold or not. His mouth was vibrating violently and so were his limbs. In addition, he was swallowing too much water.

Suddenly, Riben stopped, turned and swam quickly back to shore.

Elizabeth smiled darkly. “There is a reason the Aedes cistern is termed the coldest known place in all the world.”

Kaila turned a blank look to her. He did not quite believe that the coldest place in the world was not covered through and through in ice. Maybe, the coldest place in Atlantis.

“Do you know that it gets as cold as minus One Hundred thousand Kaldera in Aedes Cistern.” Elizabeth said turning a somber face to Kaila.

Kaila knew that something must be wrong with her. She had been somber since talking about the Xittans. He felt compelled to make her happy again, but did not know how to go about it.

Elizabeth caught his eyes, Kaila looked away, slightly embarrassed. He made up his mind. “Is there any reason why the Atlantean people do not trust the Xittans?”

Elizabeth looked away. “Many... They are murderers,” She paused, swallowed. It seemed what she wanted to say next was bigger than words. She leaned towards Kaila and went on anyway, though, in a low tone. “A couple of them kill for the Suprema.” It was almost a whisper, but Kaila heard her.

Kaila thought of what to say in response, nothing came. A Foreign Secretary accusing her immediate boss, whom she worked hand in hand with, had to be shocking.

The crowd soon became relatively silent after breathless exclamations.

Kaila’s eyes was pivoted by some invisible forces towards the screen.

A huge serpentine creature with hands was emerging from the water on Liam’s grid. Liam was tracking backwards. Every step reducing the distance between him and the beast.

On the other screen, Riben was still trying to get warm. He had lit a magical fire and was crouched beside it.

“Xydactidus!” Muriel exclaimed from the seat next to Elizabeth’s, the other woman was too absorbed in herself to really notice the screen. Kaila knew that only her eyes were there, her attention was in some deep crevice of her mind. Within a very dark memory, perhaps.

Kaila left Elizabeth to herself; he knew she would definitely resurface on her own.

Liam drew his sword and got ready for a fight. A fight in which he was out-matched, out-weaponed and out-sized.

The creature was so huge that even fifty men would still be out-sized by it. Soon, the pointed tail that was as red and luminous as a burning fire and two short legs emerged above the water. The tail began to dance about, its range of movement surprised Kaila. The creature opened its relatively wide mouth and revealed long saber-like teeth. The misty breath that exuded from its mouth seemed lethal to a group of insect flying by.

Suddenly, the tail whipped past the body of the creature. It caught Liam across the abdomen and flung him away by about fifty meters.

No voice was still audible in the stands.

For a while, Liam lay immobile. The tail of the xydactidus then knocked over as much of the trees it could knock over in the forest beyond. There was a particularly large tree on the way, which the tail could not knock over. The creature turned the pointed end and struck the tree.

The camera feeding the screen cuts to a stirring Liam. Liam picked up his sword and turned to face the xydactidus again.

The xydactidus lowered its head; its eyes were blood red.

The huge tree that was struck became dried up, very dead.

The creature swung its tail again at Liam. Liam dodged, raised his hand and struck the tail of the xydactidus. The creature remained still after the impact. The sword bounced back without even as much as scratching the creature

The xydactidus lowered its head, enraged.

Liam held out the sword with two hands, tracking backwards. His leg struck something but he staggered back to balance. The tail of the creature came back with force and knocked Liam down in one swoop.

Liam remained still, and the stadium went ultra quiet, not even a breath could be heard.

The xydactidus bent over so its short hands could reach Liam. It picked Liam up and, opened wide its mouth, and swallowed him.

Elizabeth winced at the sight; her subconscious was still relatively active. From her face, Kaila could read the obvious; no one had ever survived being swallowed by a xydactidus.

Kaila was waiting for Tarique to announce the obvious. But Tarique, like everyone else kept mum. The grid remained alive, streaming feeds from the surface of Aedes cistern until the xydactidus disappeared.

On the adjacent screen, Riben was battling his own xydactidus without much success. He kept throwing magical fireballs at the creature, and the creature was quenching them with its breath. The creature was also unable to get Riben, the man kept disappearing when the creature’s tail was coming.

Kaila did not understand why Liam’s grid was still streaming. At the moment, it was streaming the frosty underground bed of Aedes cistern. The xydactidus was gliding gently through the water, going towards the other end of the lake, where the Aedes cup was stationed.

Kaila turned his attention away from the screen. Elizabeth’s eyes were trained at the floor, she was close to tears.

Kaila took her hands... “What-”

“I was one.” She rushed the words, cutting Kaila off.  “I and my family, we were having a glorious day off the beach of Necrue in the Trenzart spa.” She breathed. “Being a priest, my father often had his Aides stationed, not far from him- We had that false sense of security, not knowing we were not safe.”

Kaila looked around; tears were falling freely from Elizabeth’s eyes. Kaila drew her closer into a side hug.

“All of a sudden, under the youthful eyes of my sister and I. Two greenish beams of light hit my parents, and that was it.” She dropped her head on Kaila’s shoulder. “We never saw who it was. And in my great ignorance, I’ve lived all my life next to the man who engineered my parent’s death.” She paused. “I’ve called him dad, served under him, and I’m still serving under him.”

“But why would someone do such a thing?” Kaila asked, totally confused.

Elizabeth took a long time to make reply. In the intervening period, the crowd made an exclamation of minor joy or unhappiness in unison.

Kaila turned his eye briefly to the screen; Riben had finally been knocked out by the xydactidus.

“I found my father’s memoirs. Not much but enough to get anyone blacklisted by the Suprema. The Suprema believes he could lose his Supremal powers if the people of Atlantis were to begin interaction with the people of the earth. And that was exactly what my father postulated” She paused. “My father was trying to make Atlanteans understand that the earth was not as bad as the Suprema made them believe.”

The xydactidus walked up to Riben, picked him up and swallowed him.

The beast was about closing its mouth when something greenish dripped through. The greenish substance was under some mysterious control, instead of falling to the ground, it turned onto the head crest of the beast.

“The memoirs I found were all addressed to my mother. In one, he wrote of a bill he was presenting to the priest chambers. Another was about a little adventure to a fairyland he claimed was not so full of evil fairies. I believe that was to be a trip to the earth behind the Suprema’s back.”

On the screen, Liam’s grid was streaming the frozen underworld of Aedes cistern. The xydactidus was still gliding peacefully. Tiny fishes around were fleeing at its approach.

On Riben’s grid, the beast had turned majestically into the water. It was gliding away from shore, towards the Aedes cup.

The green substance soon materialized into Riben, and for the first time, the crowd really cheered for him. It seemed Riben had taken control of the beast. He was now riding it faster, towards the Aedes cup.

“I gathered that my mother was not a target. Yet Halon and his men went wild, and I am very sure, he did nothing about it... But then I wonder every time, if my father’s death was well deserved.” She paused. “You know, as Foreign Secretary, I’ve seen situations where it seems there’s no other way but that. Yet I can’t stop asking myself, if bloodshed is a necessary part of any Government? If there are any Government in the universe that has no blood on their hands?” The last few sentences were like trancelike monologues.

On the screen, the xydactidus in Liam’s grid had begun moving erratically, it was like something as happening inside it. The creature was almost at the frozen part of the lake. The part on which the luminous Aedes cup was placed.

Everyone held his or her breaths.

“Wait a minute! It seems the son of Atlas is alive!” Tarique shouted.

Even Elizabeth’s mood took a positive turn. Her eyes flew to the screen.

Then after moving frantically from side to side, the xydactidus fell on the frozen ice.

People stood up so they could see, the xydactidus was visible from the stands.

Tension filled the air; Kaila felt his bladder hurrying to fill up.

Suddenly, something pierced the thick hide of the xydactidus and rose slowly out. A dagger first, a hand, and then the head of Liam emerged.

The crowd was wild, uncontrollable. People were jumping on their seats.

Kaila remained standing, his eyes rooted to the screen. Liam was being reborn.

“That’s amazing! It is definitely going to be the son of Atlas who becomes god today.

The dead xydactidus soon slid out of sight, and into the water.

Liam staggered to his feet, then turned. The glory of the day was reflected on his eyes as he began a weary march towards glory; toward goddism; toward the Aedes cup.

On the other grid, Riben was also closing in on the frozen shore. He had been riding his xydactidus above the tormented arms of the rowdy lake. However, there were instances where he was completely submerged in the icy sea.

Back to Liam’s grid, the fleshy man seemed tired. In fact, Kaila believed it was only the magnetism of the cup that drew him further.

Then, in an instant, the icy bed beside Liam began to quake.

Every eye in the stadium was trained either toward the frozen lake or the screen.

A part of the lake cracked and the head of another xydactidus popped out.

Kaila looked on, tension making him stiff.

Liam looked scared, miserable. He jumped on the head of the creature as more of the creature was revealed through the broken surface of the lake. Liam readied his dagger and went for the crest of the xydactidus. He missed it as the creature shook its head.

Liam was sliding downwards trying to hold onto anything on the thick hide. He stabbed at the thick hide to get a hold, and surprisingly, the dagger penetrated. He raised his eyes, found that the region a white band around the creature’s neck. Liam sensed victory. He got a good hold of the creature with his feet and slices through as deeply as he could round the white band.

The creature became frantic, desperate. Liam was flung onto the frozen surface of the lake. The head of the creature fell lifelessly to one side, hanging from a part Liam’s dagger did not reach.

The crowd became ecstatic; some people fell from the respective cusps onto the frozen lake. Even Liam allowed a smile to curl up his thin lips.

On the other grid, Riben was a few yards from the seeming icy bank. The xydactidus was still going wildly, unaware of its rider above its crest. Then, Riben produced a small dagger from his black gown and buried it inside the xydactidus’s crest.

The xydactidus went into a mad frenzy, making a great storm out of the rowdy water.

Riben waited until the xydactidus swung him close to the frozen surface of the lake before leaping from it.

The crowd cheered the more. Riben had somehow managed to fall into their good books.

Suddenly, there was a forced silence. Over seven heads were growing out of the part of the xydactidus Liam had cut with his dagger.

Liam turned and saw it. The xydactidus was rising. Liam knew he had to get to the Aedes cup before the xydactidus got to him. He began running as fast as his weary feet could go. But even he knew, his speed would not be good enough. The Aedes cup was still considerably far from him.

Riben too started running after the Aedes cup, he was very far from Liam and the multi-headed xydactidus.

The xydactidus was now in hot pursuit of Liam, breaking off the surface of the frozen ice as it landed.

Liam came to halt as he realized he was not going to make the Aedes cup in time. He raised his dagger, gripping it so tightly that his veins were visible.

The xydactidus could not break in time. It crashed past, just as Liam leapt aside.

The surface of ice on which Liam was standing broke into pieces, and he fell into the icy water.

The xydactidus turned and waited patiently for Liam to emerge.

The crowd was struck dumb; a buzzing fly could be heard over great distances.

Liam’s hand emerged from the water, gripping onto an iceberg. Then his whole body clambered onto the iceberg.

The xydactidus’ luminous tail could be seen in the grid. It rose high then stopped in mid air. Next, it was falling rapidly towards a shivering and almost out of breath Liam.

Kaila looked away. Most of the crowd may have followed suit. Kaila knew the tale. The xydactidus would punch through Liam and in seconds, the bulky man would be nothing other than dry mass.

By the time Kaila turned his eyes back to the screen. Liam’s grid was gone. The whole screen was now Riben’s grid.

Surprisingly, Tarique had not yet announced Liam’s death.

Riben was closing in on the xydactidus, and also the Aedes cup. He was jumping from iceberg to iceberg, hurdling as fast as he could.

The xydactidus sensed him, it turned and made a somewhat guttural noise.

Riben was still running towards it. The creature seemed satisfied to wait for him.

The crowd was now behind Riben, tension seizing their voices.

Someone shouted at him to stop.

Double figures became single figures. Riben was yards away from the xydactidus. He sprung from an iceberg, and hauled himself into the air.

Realizing what was going on, the xydactidus sprung after him.

Riben as going further than a normal human being could. But the crowd did not care if it was magic. They were urging him on.

The xydactidus closed in on him as he flew over it. The head of the creature followed him, baring the long saber-like teeth.

Riben panicked, the breath of the xydactidus was tearing his clothes. He began to fall and the saber-like tooth caught his foot. The effect of the flying launched both predator and prey forwards.

Riben landed several yards from the Aedes cup, with his left leg in the creature’s mouth. The impact of the landing broke up most of the frozen surface of the lake.

The Aedes cup fell from its stand and began to sink into the lake. Actually, so did Riben and the creature.

Silence enveloped the whole stadium, everyone seemed to have paused in their respective poises during the impact. The luminance of the Aedes cup was becoming faint, the cup was sinking deeper.

Kaila landed heavily on the crystal chair. This was not the kind of end he had anticipated, even with the supposed infamy of the game. Then, he saw the floor of the cusp change.

The crowd suddenly erupted like an earthquake. Kaila jumped to his feet; he did not need the screen now. He looked down at the lake; the whole water was strongly illuminated and shone like the Aedes cup.

Moments later, the Aedes cup surfaced from the lake. A hand followed and then the head and body of a luminous Riben. He was standing on the surface of the water, probably, through magical means.

The crowd was not concerned with whatever Riben was doing. They were chanting his name wildly and cheering like mad people.

“And that will go down as one of the most enthralling game I’ve seen this Olympiad- I present to you today Riben Guyne Greco, god of earth, water, and fire, the conqueror of Aedes.”

The crowd responded with unintelligible ecstatic shouts.

Riben walked over the surface of the water majestically. He was reflecting the radiance of the Aedes cup clutched jealously in his hand.

Elizabeth turned smiling; her attitude had changed tremendously towards Riben.

“Tomorrow still stands, right?”

“It will not fall for anything, not even Aedes conqueror.”

Elizabeth’s smile widened, she turned a brief backwards glance. Everything seemed well.