The Rising Sun: Episode 3 Read online

  The Nyon Temple, Farnor

  Mantra had been sitting here, staring out the window in front, for an hour or more now. For the first time in so long, he was unable to get a grasp over himself, to find composure in the speedy thoughtflow running through him.

 

  The room door opened behind him, and two pairs of feet could be heard striding in.

  “We’ve just heard from them,” said Galinor, standing behind him. “From Qyro, Vestra and Ion. both their cruisers had reached their respective planets some time ago. They’ve now re united and reached the outer spectrum, the planet Otawna.”

  Mantra felt himself ease slightly as he heard it.

  “Good.” he said, nodding. “That means they’re in safe waters now. Off Naxim territory.”

  Dantox walked up to before Mantra, his hands tucked within the folds of his sleeves.

  “They would be reaching here in less than half an hour, now.” he informed Mantra. “With the crystal safe with them.”

  “Excellent.” Mantra slowly rose, turning to face the two of them. “Phase one is complete: we’ve procured the crystal. Now for phase two.” He looked from Galinor to Dantox. “What do we do with it, now?”

  The two of them exchanged a quick glance.

  Mantra stroked his chin, thinking.

  “I think,” he said slowly. “That we should have it taken to Nalzes. He’ll do what needs to be done with it.”

  “Nalzes?” asked Dantox, giving a moment’s thought. “The priest who lives in Velrox?”

  Mantra nodded. “A mystic priest. And a very old acquaintance of mine. If we take the crystal to him, all problems would be solved.” He turned and looked out the window again, mapping out the entire plan in his mind. “And this would be the best course of action, because close to where he lives, we have a mystical tablet. A tablet that I’m familiar with.” And no ordinary one at that. “Nalzes is well versed in the spells of eld. He can do what needs to be done with the help of the mystical tablet, and the problem posed by the crystal would be solved. Forever.”

  Dantox’s brow sank in a thoughtful frown. He walked before the window at the end of the room.

  “Mantra, in the end, our purpose is just to keep the crystal safe, to keep it off the reach of undesirable forces, isn’t it?” he asked, looking out the window

  “It is.” said Mantra.

  Dantox turned slowly and faced him again. “The Nyon temple, if you ask me, is the safest place for the crystal to be right now. In the entire spectrum. The crystal would be perfectly safe here. We’re taking a rather unnecessary risk by plunging into another voyage across the spectrum with the crystal to get it to Nalzes when we’ve had a tough time getting it in the first place. Wouldn’t you agree?” He looked between Mantra and Galinor.

  Galinor, who appeared to have been thinking on the same lines, nodded. “Acquiring the crystal was not easy. And the three of them faced a huge risk in the journey to reach here safely with it. After all of it, do we need to face another risky endeavour? because as we’re well aware, Velrox is on the other side of spectrum, and getting the crystal there safely would be a dangerous mission of its own. And what with the Naxim now tightening their hold over the entire spectrum … in the light of the recent terrorist attacks.” He gave a firm shake of his head. “I really wouldn’t think it’s advisable.”

  Mantra assimilated the situation, allowing himself a few seconds of silence. He knew that taking the crystal to the priest, Nalzes, would be the best of all options … but as the two of them rightly pointed out, Nalzes lived secluded in a distant planet. And reaching him with the crystal would take a reasonably long voyage. One where many things could go wrong in between. And what was the point, when the Nyon temple provided the safest haven for the crystal?

  We’ll save this for later on. he thought. At a time where it would be safer for us to make such a voyage. When the Naxim’s current rigid protocols have loosened slightly. As of now, undertaking such a mission may end up compromising everything we’d struggled for in the past few hours.

  “All right.” he said, nodding.

  Galinor drew his z-com, checking the time.

  “They’ll be here soon now.” he informed the two of them as he pocketed the device.

  “And when they do … we have a lot to brief them on.” said Mantra. “Because after what they’ve done, they have a right to know of course.”

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