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Malum

Volume One

By: Razial Drakken

Part One

--Malum. The worst shithole of a planet this universe has known, and living here is paramount to living in hell. Thieves, cut-throats, and other criminals built a stronghold against would-be law enforcement and those insane enough to jeopardize their lives to collect a high bounty. Living here never meant security; there was a price for everything, a fair exchange, and honoring that one law was vital to Malum's success. That was…until Thamas appeared.

Thamas Duncan lay in bed late at night, reading a textbook and taking various notes. Though summer had just started, Thamas bought all the required text for his fall classes and wanted to get a jumpstart on his final year in college. Mythology and writing always fascinated Thamas, seeking out the nuggets of truth behind the myths and conducting thorough research about the possible origins of humanity. As a kid, Thamas saw something in the night sky he could not explain; light reflected off its surface, revealing a small craft, but he did not recognize the design. But as he studied this strange sight, Thamas noticed an emblem on the side that became an obsession and drove him to this point. At only twenty, Thamas became knowledgeable about most of Earth's mythology.

Thamas set the book aside and sighed. Though he lived in an apartment off-campus, Thamas promised his mother to take summers off and have some fun. But, conducting research was fun, at least to Thamas. Two and a half months, he seemed daunting without the constant schedule of studying. Thamas landed a scholarship to Yale University and loved the atmosphere in New Haven, knowing he studied hard to be here. Thamas stood up and gazed at himself in the dresser mirror. A thin man with blond hair and blue eyes stared back at Thamas with an equally thin face. Even though blessed with a high metabolism, Thamas wished he could bulk up the way his friends could, but even with lifting weights, he stayed the same.

"Damn it," Thamas groaned as he tried flexing in different poses before giving up. He laughed a bit until a loud BOOM resonated from outside, cracking the windows of his apartment and the mirror. He rushed to his bedroom balcony and looked around, straining his eyes to catch whatever made the noise.

Thamas looked down the street momentarily but did not see a soul. However, something in the sky flashed, catching his eye. To Thamas' horror, the flash expanded outward as a loud BANG rocked the sleepy neighborhood. In the distance, Thamas could hear the sirens from emergency responders blaring and saw debris fall from the night sky in fireballs. As he looked, Thamas realized one of the fireballs sped towards his apartment at blinding speeds. He barely had enough time to jump from the balcony as the apartment exploded, sending firelit debris everywhere as Thamas scrambled for cover. The pain in Thamas' leg indicated a broken bone, but adrenaline kept most of the pain at bay.

"Damn it! What's going on," Thamas asked as he saw something jump from the apartment but could not determine what it was. After rising to his feet, Thamas leaned against a tree for support, feeling blood running down from a cut on his forehead. Suddenly, a colossal figure stepped out of the shadows, and Thamas had to do a double-take. Before Thamas stood a reptilian man with greenhorns, blue scales, and yellow running down his front into his shirt. A black leather jacket adorned this creature's massive body, reminding Thamas of a biker. His entire outfit was black. By Thamas' estimate, the creature was well over seven and a half feet tall, with his width able to accommodate two full-grown men as his tail swished back and forth with a mind of its own.

The creature turned around and looked at Thamas with a dead stare, his eyes a piercing emerald radiating with some power that Thamas did not understand. Thamas did not move, fearing any action would provoke an attack. They stared at each other for a while, estimating their strengths and weaknesses. After a few moments, the creature spoke in a deep baritone, "Quis es, homo? Ubi est largitas mea?"

Thamas heard him speak, but the language was unfamiliar. "I'm sorry, I don't understand," Thamas said as the creature radiated with power.

The creature tapped the side of his head and said, "Mea largitas! Ubi est illa creatura? Do tibi... understand?"

"I understood that last word. Are you speaking Latin?" Thamas asked, curiosity overriding his better judgment.

"No, it is from the Five Prime Races. They created that language, but never mind that. Where is my bounty?" Asked the creature as Thamas shrugged.

"How am I supposed to know? You wrecked my apartment, for which I barely managed to escape; no thanks to you," Thamas said loathsomely.

"Do not get an attitude with me, human. My bounty is the only thing that matters to me, and if you get in my way, I'll kill you where you stand," said the creature.

Thamas hesitated for a moment. The prospect of dying did not appeal to him, but letting this creature get away with trashing his apartment would not happen. The question was, who the hell was he? What the hell was he? Thamas did not like this scenario, adding to his growing anxiety.

Suddenly, a figure jumped out from behind the tree, grabbing Thamas. Thamas thrashed and tried to break free, but the figure had him in a death grip. "What the hell is this? Am I going to die?" Thamas thought as the creature laughed in a high raspy voice.

"Well, well, what do we have here? A little human for me to feast on, and there's nothing you can do to stop me, Ryax," said the creature as the other figure, Ryax, spat on the ground.

"Like I fucking care what you do to that human; you are on my bounty list. Nothing more, nothing less. Now hand yourself over because I am about to reign hell down around you," Ryax said as he pulled out what appeared to be a revolver.

"What the fuck is a revolver going to do? Besides, he's going to kill me anyway? I'm done for," Thamas thought as he watched Ryax spin the revolver housing, and suddenly, something unbelievable happened. Seven different lights replaced the would-be bullet chambers with all six colors of the rainbow, plus an additional slot that appeared bright white. Ryax locked the chamber on yellow and aimed Thamas and the creature.

"No, wait! Don't shoot!" Thamas said as he struggled to break free.

"I told you, kid. You get in my way, and you die, too," Ryax said as he fired.

Time slowed, and as Ryax pulled a trigger, a lightning bolt shot forth from the revolver, hitting Thamas and the creature who let go. Thamas seized as pain ripped through his body and thought, "Oh, God! I'm dying!"

Thamas fell to his knees, darkness threatening to take him. As he looked up, Thamas saw a massive craft with blinding lights settling down over them. Thamas slipped into delirium and felt a pull on his body before blacking out completely, his thoughts fleeing from his mind, and he could not think anymore.

Part 2

A sudden scream pierced through the darkness. Thamas awoke with a start. He looked around in a cold sweat, hearing what sounded like a woman crying out her terror as several creatures chased her past Thamas' location. Thamas puts his hands over his ears as she screams again, pleading for her life. Thamas did not understand what was happening, wondering if he had died and gone to hell. Thamas sat up, realizing he was in a run-down shack that had long suffered from severe neglect. The makeshift bed Thamas laid in consisted of old tattered, dirty blankets. He pressed his back against the wall, heart pounding fast, threatening to break out from his chest and run away without him.

Suddenly, a creature half his height ran in, shutting and locking the door behind it with several locks and bolts. The creatures passed as the woman screamed out again but suddenly went silent. The beast in front of Thamas let out a sigh and turned around, locking its golden eyes on Thamas, freezing with fear. Thamas looked at this creature momentarily, taking its features and realizing he knew what it was, or at least he thought.

"Are you a demon?" Thamas asked, wondering if the creature understood his question.

The creature stared and blinked with anger.

"NO! I am not an underworld scumbag. I am a kobold, a noble race of dragons that had lived in this universe long before you primates dirtied it with your pathetic existence," said the kobold as it huffed and puffed angrily.

"Well, excuse me for living, you little creep. So, you are saying I'm not in hell?" Thamas said as the anger from the kobold rose even higher.

"Why should I answer your questions? You're the most ungrateful primate I have ever met. First, I save you from being devoured and hide you here, and then you insult me. I should toss you out and let the rape gangs have you," said the kobold as Thamas felt his anger rising, overriding his fear.

"Look, you were the one who started with the insults. Please don't call me primate; I will not call you a little creep. Deal?" Thamas said; he outstretched his hand towards the kobold, who flinched and looked down at the hand.

"Fine, but I am not shaking hands with a human. Of all the weird creatures Ryax leaves me with, why a human?" The kobold exclaimed as he sat next to the door.

"Look, I don't like this any better than you. I would rather be at home now but I have been abducted and shot. OH, SHIT! I WAS SHOT," Thamas shouted, looking over his body but could not find any burn marks or projectile holes.

"Shut your mouth, human! Do you want them to find us? You have been healed and sent here," the kobold said, shifting to the window to peek out. As it did, Thamas caught sight of the red scales that adorned this creature, wearing only a waist garment with a dagger on the right side of his hips. The blade was not fancy, just a simple woven hilt with a red jewel crested on the handle. The kobold looked like nothing more than skin and bones, living on scraps and never knowing the pleasure of a good meal.

Thamas could not help but pity the creature, and if what the creature said was true, then this kobold fell far from his lineage to whatever hellhole they were in now. Plus, pity was probably something the kobold did not want anyway; if it was still proud of its heritage, it might take pity as an insult. However, if this kobold were responsible for saving Thamas' life, then it would stand that some gratitude is in order. The kobold could have left Thamas to the whims of wherever they were and possibly be dead now or worse.

"Thank you."

The kobold faltered and looked back at Thamas suspiciously. "What?"

"You are correct. I did not show my gratitude towards you for saving my life, and I am saying now. Thank you," Thamas said as the kobold studied him momentarily.

"Urgh, I think I preferred your anger. Don't mention it, ever, human," the kobold said as Thamas smiled inwardly.

"My name is Thamas. What's yours?" Thamas asked as the kobold almost laughed and shook his head.

"Human, you are so strange. It's been centuries since someone has asked for my name, and I don't think you could pronounce the full name. You may call me Gen," said Gen as he looked out the window again before sliding to the floor.

"So, if you don't mind telling, where are we?" Thamas asked as Gen looked up at the tin-covered shack and sighed.

"You are on the worse shithole of a planet this universe has ever known. It's called Malum," Gen said as Thamas heard Latin again.

"Wait, isn't Malum a Latin word for evil?" Thamas asked as Gen looked at him with shock.

"How do you know what Malum means? It's not Latin; it is one of the five original languages of the universe handed down from the five supreme races," Gen said as this information took Thamas by surprise. However, before he had time to process the meaning of this, the far wall exploded as a giant hammer smashed its way through, showering Thamas and Gen with several thousand wooden shards.

"Ah, look at what we got here, boys. Two flesh bags for breeding. Take 'em," said the bulky stranger with the hammer as the group behind him cackled and jeered.

However, before anyone could move, a white-hot flame blasted out from Gen's maw, separating them from the rape gage. "Quickly, human. We must go," Gen said, taking Thamas' hand and pulling him to his feet with more strength than expected. They took off running down an alley as Thamas heard the gang pursuing close behind them. With each step Thamas and Gen took, the gang would close the gap between them.

"Gen, they are gaining on us," Thamas said as he heard their voices growing louder with every passing second.

"I know, we may need to fight our way out of this one," Gen said as he pulled his dagger from his belt, and flame engulfed it.

"What the hell is going on? Is this magic?" Thamas thought as he felt a knife zip past his ear within mere centimeters and stick in the wall ahead of them.

"Eh, I don't have anything to fight with," Thamas said as they turned a corner. Thamas scanned the alley as they ran, spotting a broom handle and picked up along the way.

For an instant, Thamas' eyes flashed blue and saw the world distort as if seeing everything with a tint of purple and blue. "What just happened?" Thamas thought, but it cleared as soon as it came.

Gen looked back at the broomstick Thamas held and shook his head. Finally, they rounded another corner, and for a moment, time slowed down as they hit a dead end. Both backed against the wall as the gang surrounded them, laughing evilly. Thamas' heartbeat quickened as they closed in, fearing a fate worse than death.

"Oi, you boys led us on a wild chase. It would've been better if you accepted your fate. Now, with will beat the shit out of you while taking your asses. Dead or alive, you will make good fuck slaves," said the bulky creature with the hammer.

As Thamas looked, the creature resembled a minotaur but somehow different, edging his way forward as his erection escaped the loincloth, causing Thamas to stare while looking away in embarrassment. He had an attraction to men but never told anyone and hated being forced into this. As he backed into the wall, the gang took a step closer.

Suddenly, Gen charged, sticking his dagger in one before being knocked back into the wall as the creature, who looked like a ram, cried out in pain. Thamas managed to see the ram was holding his guts in as it collapsed, bleeding out on the ground and coughing up blood before succumbing to death's icy grip.

The minotaur creature took a step towards Thamas, who swung the broomstick. The creature deflected this easily and grabbed Thamas by the throat, slamming him against the wall. Thamas could barely breathe as his nostrils filled with a horrid stick of this creature's scent, and he gagged. "Is this it? Am I going to get raped and killed here? No, I can't. Not yet." Thamas thought.

"NO, NOT YET!" Thamas shouted out as a sudden rush of energy surged through him. Instantly, Thamas' body radiated with blue light as script started to scrawl across his arms and pulsated with power, sending out shockwaves of energy. Thamas screamed, blasting energy everywhere, obliterating the minotaur instantly and knocking the others back.

Gen looked on in utter shock but recollected himself as he jumped, rebounding off a wall and slicing a head off another creature. The rest took off running as Thamas fell to the ground and fell to his knees. The blue light and script faded as he panted from exhaustion. "What the hell just happened to me? What am I?" Thamas asked himself more than anyone as Gen returned to his side.

"Why didn't you tell me you were a mage?" Gen asked as Thamas shook his head.

"A what?"

"A mage. A magic-wielder," Gen said as Thamas looked at his hands, feeling the energy still coursing through his body.

"I didn't know. Man, this is so fucked up. I don't want to be a mage," Thamas said, quickly running his hand through his hair.

"Well, you are, and I think I might know someone who can help. Come, we best not linger," said Gen as Thamas nodded and followed him down the ally.

Part 3

They walked for what seemed like hours, leaving the city far behind. Thamas was taking in the harsh environment that reminded him of a lava field. The air smelled strong with brimstone as gas pockets escaped from the ground like steam geysers. Thamas looked at the landscape and could not believe how much it resembled Earth. Perhaps with more volcanic activity, but otherwise, the same. The only difference is the lack of vegetation, yet there seems to be some life living in this barren wasteland.

Thamas feet started to ache, and he wondered if he should have done more cardio back on Earth. Still, he could not believe where he was and felt an odd sensation of accomplishment as the first human to travel this far.

"Wait, no. That makes no sense," Thamas said out loud more to himself.

"What are you talking about, human," Gen asked, the annoyance heavy in his voice.

"It was something you mentioned earlier about humans. Am I the first one to travel out this far?" Thamas asked as he continued walking but crossed his arms while using his hand to rub his chin in thought.

"Don't flatter yourself, human. You are not the first, nor will you be the last," Gen said as Thamas nodded.

"Okay, got it. Who or what are the five main races you and Ryax mentioned, and why do they know Latin, an Earth language?"

"SO many questions. Look, suffice it to say that humans have not been around for very long and that they got their language from the five primary races. The magic-wielder will be able to answer your questions better than I can," Gen said as Thamas nodded.

They silently traveled several miles before Gen stopped and pointed, "There."

Thamas looked where Gen pointed. Off in the distance stood a tall white tower that directly contrasted with the dark sky. "Um, how far is that?"

"By human estimations, it's about fifty miles," Gen said.

Thamas' heart sank into his stomach. That was farther than he had ever walked before; he said, "Really, that's going to take us days to get there."

"Three to four precisely."

"What the hell are we supposed to eat? Where are we supposed to sleep?" Thamas whined as he fell to his knees.

"Cut the whining human. There's no time for it," Gen said as Thamas nodded and started to stand when the ground underneath him rumbled.

"What was that?"

"Shh!" Gen said as he pressed his head to the ground.

Suddenly, the ground underneath Thamas exploded as a hand grabbed him, lifting him high. Thamas yelled and shouted, "GET ME DOWN FROM HERE!"

Thamas looked down and saw a giant stone statue poking its head out of the ground. It bellowed out as Gen charged it, trying to stab it with the dagger but was knocked back. Gen hit his head hard on the ground, causing his eyes to water as he saw Thamas dragged down into the ground.

"HELP ME—" Thamas' shouted was cut off as the ground closed up again.

"What the hell? Damn it, Ryax is not going to like this." Gen said.

Part 4

Thamas slowly opened his eyes but could only see pitch-black darkness. He wondered if he was still asleep or unconscious, but the sound of dripping water made that possibility unlikely. Next, he felt the cold stony ground below him as he sat up, hearing the rustle of chains as he did. Suddenly, he felt the even more brutal metal on his wrists and ankles as he tested their strength, but they held firm, unbreakable, as they gave him enough room to maneuver but not too far.

Thamas, what have you landed yourself into? Thamas thought as he sat in the dark, cold, hungry, and isolated. He had wanted to study the universe, but this trip was a complete disaster. Not that he was planning to come on this trip in the first place, but still. His thoughts were displaced by a female voice breaking the silence.

"Such a poor state of being. Your mind carries such dark thoughts. Why not relax and take your mind off of your troubles?" The voice said as Thamas was about to respond but was cut off by a rumbling as if the stone was grating upon a rock. A sudden light appeared, blinding him as he raised a hand to cover his eyes.

After a few moments, Thamas' eyes adjusted to the new illumination and took in the scene before him. From a distance, he heard the hiss of what sounded like snakes but could not see any around the cavern. He only noticed the people standing in black cloaks, hooded with their heads tilted down and hands folded in front of their chests. As far as his eyes could, people wore the same outfit. The cavern was massive, and at the far end stood an enormous stone statue of a cobra with rubies for its eyes.

Thamas could not help but feel uneasy, as if the statue looked straight through him, piercing his soul and entire being. As he continued to watch, Thamas heard the hisses become faint reminiscences of chanting in a language that seemed familiar but could not make it out.

Thamas looked down and saw the stone sliding towards what could be described as an altar set upon a stone stage. As he looked on, the crowd parted and revealed a beautiful woman with black hair sitting on a throne of gold just below the statue. Her complex was fair, and her skin was without blemish. Indeed, even Thamas had to acknowledge her beauty as he drew closer and closer to her. Her golden eyes gazed upon him and lit up with delight as she smoothly rose from her throne, gliding to the platform's edge.

"Ah, this must be the new human everyone's talking about," she said playfully. "And he's handsome too."

Thamas heard the English translation but detected another language underneath it. Something so familiar, and yet, it escapes him.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Thamas said, feeling his heart beat harder and feeling sweat forming on his forehead.

"Oh, so curious. You seem smarter than the last man I had," she said as the stone wall stopped before her. Suddenly, the shackles release, and Thamas falls to his knees, rubbing his wrists as he looks up at her. "Now, stand so I can better look at you."

Thamas stood reluctantly and was unsure he enjoyed being objectified by this beautiful woman. The slight scent of vanilla mixed with cinnamon drifted from her to his nose, and indeed, if he were straight, her charms would be irresistible.

"Hmm, a bit dirty, but then again, I like my men that way," she said as he groped his ass cheek, causing him to gasp in surprise before circling to the front.

"Forgive me, but I believe we have not been properly introduced," Thamas said, his anger rising to just below the surface but keeping the tension out of his voice.

"Quite right," she said, returning to her throne. She turned around and said, "I am Shé F?rén, Queen of the Serpents. Welcome to my kingdom, mortal."

At that moment, Thamas realized what language lay underneath the English translation. It was a very ancient form of Chinese, but he could not place which dynasty. "It is an honor, your majesty. I am intrigued that you know a language from my home world of Earth. Ancient Chinese, am I right?"

Shé F?rén studied him with golden eyes that glowed in the firelight. "The language you hear is a form of Reptilian from the five Primary Races. They created the universe and gave all the knowledge of the language. My ancestors visited earth eons ago before primates were created."

Thamas looked slightly puzzled, but his line of thought was cut off. "Now, no more silly questions; I want you to make love to me. It has been so long, and I thirst for the comfort of a man," the queen said as she moved towards Thamas, who backed into the stone wall.

"Y-your highness, I-I am flattered, truly, but I must decline," Thamas stammered as the queen advanced on him.

"No one denies me, mortal. I demand satisfaction; I demand you stripe and feed me your essence," Shé F?rén screamed and charged at him.

Thamas yelled, holding up his hands when suddenly, he felt an upsurge of power flow into his hands. Then, a loud BANG as a blue energy ball exploded, sending the queen flying back, landing just before her throne.

Thamas looked down at his hands and smiled before the queen screamed out, transforming from her human form into a massive viper. Suddenly, all the clocked figures shredded their cloaks revealing thousands of snake people charging at Thamas. The queen radiated power up through her entire body as sickly green energy, opening her maw and aiming at Thamas.

"Now, you will regret rejecting me," the queen said as Thamas closed his eyes, expecting the end to come.

Part 5

Thamas waited for the end as She Furen charged a fiery blast from her maw. Suddenly, Thamas felt grabbed by strong hands and thrown across the room and opened his eyes to see a familiar figure turn towards the viper.

She Furen breathed a Jetstream of fire as the figure spun the revolver. Thamas landed as pain exploded across his side, watching the figure shoot ice from the gun through watery eyes.

"Ryax?"

"A fine mess you got yourself into, human," Ryax said with a smirk.

She Furen cried out as the ice collided with her maw. She quickly recovered and lanced out at Ryax, who dodged, pulling a knife from his boot and stabbing the back of her head, severing her spine. She thrashes a bit before finally succumbing to death.

All the snakes attack at once. Thamas looked around for a weapon and saw a sword beside the throne. He ran and punched a couple of snakes while dodging others. He picked up the sword when Gen dropped down from the cobra and breathed out fire, burning several snakes in the process.

"Come on, human, we must go," Gen said as he grabbed Thamas by the belt and pulled with fantastic strength for someone of his four-and-a-half-foot stature. Thamas nodded and ran after Gen, with Ryax covering their escape.

Once outside, Ryax spun the revolver again to green and shot two green seeds at the doorway. Suddenly, the seeds sprang to life, growing into massive vines burrowed into the archway and permanently closing the entrance.

Ryax spun the revolver before holstering it on his belt. He looked at Thamas with the same dead stare as before but somehow less intense.

"I gave you one simple job, kobold. Did I not say to watch over him?" Ryax said as Gen tried to respond, but Thamas interrupted him.

"Excuse me? Do not go blaming him for your mistakes. You were the one that dumped me here on this godforsaken planet! I was almost raped twice and nearly died! Now you are blaming him? He has been nothing but helpful, which is more than I can say for you. Why did you bring me here in the first place?" Thamas seethed with anger as Ryax merely laughed.

"Look, Gen, a human, is defending you. It seems you do have some sway over some helpless creatures." Ryax said.

Thamas raised his sword, and Ryax laughed even harder. "I am not helpless. I do know how to fight and don't care how tough you think. I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!" Thamas yelled as he charged with the sword.

"Fine, your funeral, human," Ryax said as he easily dodged Thamas swings.

"Damn it! What's with this guy? I took eight years of swordsmanship; I should be hacking him to pieces," Thamas thought and felt an instant pain in his gut as the air left his lungs.

"I see you are somewhat skilled with a sword but nowhere near my level of experience," Ryax said as Thamas dropped to his knees, losing grip on the sword and letting it fall to the ground.

"Just as I thought. You're weak," Ryax said as something in Thamas snapped and exploded with bluish-purple energy.

"I am not weak. I will...prove...I am...not...WEAK!" Thamas said, his voice highly distorted, and he blasted Ryax back against the rockface.

"What the hell is this?" Ryax said as Thamas hovered a few inches above the ground.

"He's an untrained mage!" Gen yelled above the roaring wind.

"A human mage? Impossible?" Ryax said as he staggered back to his feet. He felt something hot on his brow. He reached up and wiped away the blood. His blood.

"It's been a long time since someone made me bleed. Prepare to die," Ryax said as he disappeared, moving fast and knocking Thamas to the ground with a single blow.

Thamas regained himself and struggled to see Ryax standing over him with the revolver pointed at him.

Suddenly, Gen was there, standing between them. "Ryax, not that I am sticking up for the human, but remember what the council said about keeping him alive. I am unsure why, but they saw something in him that could fix this planet. If you kill him now, the entire galactic community will be after you."

Ryax holds the revolver steady for a moment. He eyes Gen and Thamas for a long time until finally, he spins the revolver and holsters it again. "Fine. Besides, I don't want human guts on my clothes anyway. You should be closer to Mika's Tower now. If you hurry, you should make it there before noon tomorrow."

"What in the world were they talking about? What council, and why am I so special? I am a nobody," Thamas thought as he staggered back to his feet.

Ryax looked strangely at Thamas and said, "I'm impressed, human. Most other creatures would've died from a hit like that. You have some of my respect."

With that, Ryax clicked a button, and within a few minutes, his ship appeared. He quickly climbed aboard and blasted off into the distance.

"Human, that was the single stupidest thing I have ever seen anyone do for another being. I don't need you to stand up for me. I can survive on my own. But... thanks." Gen said as Thamas smiled and nodded.

They started towards the considerably bigger tower. "So, this mage's name is Mika, huh? Sounds interesting," Thamas said he looked at the tower.

"You have no idea," Gen said as they continued down the road.

Part 6

Thamas tried to rest that night, but the fight with Ryax left him sore and bruised. What was he thinking taking on a, well, dragon like that?

Thamas rolled onto his back and looked up at the stars. For a moment, he looked for constellations, but none were familiar. Nevertheless, the stars showed brilliantly against a backdrop of greenish-red colors accented with bits of neon blue. Thamas knew these were not his stars but still stared in wonder, drifting him into an uneasy sleep.

Thamas found himself in the middle of a grassy plain as a warm breeze brushed across his skin. He sat up and looked around but found nothing in sight. Then he heard a laugh similar to a child's echo in the distance.

"Is anyone there?" Thamas asked as he stood. He heard something move behind him and saw someone standing in white robes with a shawl covering their face.

"So, you are the one coming to my tower. Ah, I see so much potential in you," the being said as they giggled again.

"Wait, are you Mika?"

"Well, of course, I am, but we mustn't talk now. No. Too many ears are listening. It's not safe, no. I shall see you tomorrow. Tata!" The being dissolved into dust and drifted away in the wind.

"Wait! Come back!" Thamas yelled as everything went dark.

Suddenly, Thamas eyes shot open and bolted upright. He breathed as he wiped away the sweat on his face. He looked over and found Gen sitting next to him with a pitiful look on his face.

"What? Haven't you had a bad dream before?" Thamas said defensively.

"I have not dreamed for nearly 50 cycles; that's about 25 years in your time," Gen said as Thamas smiled.

"Be thankful; they're not always fun."

Thamas stood and stretched before noticing the sky. It was still early morning, but the sky was on fire as the suns entered over the horizon. He still felt tired, but the dream drove his desire to sleep away from him.

"Kobolds were once trusted as dream seers. We could move freely not only in our dreams but in the dreams of others," Gen said as Thamas nodded.

"So, what happened?" Thamas asked.

Gen shrugged and said, "Our talents were used to help others and to act as a medium between the five original races of the universe. However, some grew fearful of this power because while it could be used to help others, it could also be used to obliterate minds. Such a fate is worse than death. So, we kobolds were hunted and executed."

"That's horrible. Believe it or not, I understand what it's like to be persecuted for being born different," Thamas said as he started down the road to Mika's Tower.

"Ugh, again, I think I preferred you angry," Gen said as he walked alongside Thamas.

They walked silently for a reasonable distance until Thamas felt a surge of energy zip up his body and blast him several feet away.

Thamas looked up to see an electrical arch growing outwards before disappearing.

"Are you hurt?" Gen asked as Thamas sat up and coughed out smoke.

"What the hell was that?"

"That would be the energy field protecting Mika's tower. Shocking, right?" Gen said as Thamas gave him a dead stare.

"I wasn't aware that even little dragons made bad jokes," Thamas said, standing up. He looked up and saw the obsidian tower loom over them. Then suddenly, a childlike voice rang out.

"OH, my darlings! It's so good to have guests! Do come in and make yourselves at home." The voice said as a door to the energy field opened. Suddenly, Thamas felt himself pulled inside along with Gen, crashing onto a stone path in the middle of a garden. The door behind them slammed shut.

"Human, would you get off of me?!" Gen yelled as Thamas rolled back to his feet.

Thamas took in their surroundings. He initially knew they were in a garden, but the beauty of this place was far beyond his imagination. There were several plants that he never knew existed, along with several distinct animals that seemed to have no fear of them.

Suddenly, the voice that greeted them was that of a man. "Welcome, my friends, to my Tower."

Thamas and Gen turned on the spot to see a figure with ebony skin, white hair, and pink eyes descend a set of stairs towards them. However, aside from the visual aesthetics, Thamas noticed the figure had the bosom of a woman shown threw the robes and with male counterparts in the loins. The clothing was loose, but somehow, it showed off everything in a flattering way. Mika wore several golden braces and rings as they stopped before them and smiled platinum white teeth.

"We have much to discuss."

Part 7

Mika's Story

Thamas and Gen followed Mika into an elevator or something similar. However, Thamas hardly noticed the elevator working and thought it broke. To his astonishment and his relief, not only did the elevator work, but within seconds they were at their destination.

Thamas stepped out of the elevator to an elaborately decorated floor with no rooms except a door to the right. The room was vast and reminded Thamas of a high-rise tower penthouse. The décor seemed to glow with several rainbow colors that shimmered from one color to the next. The entire floor resembled an Arabian Palace with several pillows and incense burning, perfuming the air with a soothing scent. Large bay windows filtered in the golden light Thamas noticed when entering the garden outside. Judging from the sight outside, Thamas estimated they were over 400 meters high. Mika led them to a circle of luxurious pillows and sat on the biggest orange one.

Thamas noticed a change in Mika as they sat down. This transformation was subtle initially but blossomed into the woman Thamas had seen in his dreams.

"You seem curious. Oh, my. Your mind is transparent. So many questions, yes. And I will answer many of them," Mika said as Thamas looked a little guilty and adjusted his hair as if that would be a sufficient shield.

"But you, I know you, kobold. Your mind, I cannot read. There appears to be a veil thrown over your mind. Oh, goodness. If you wish, I will attempt to remove this before you leave here."

Gen looked perplexed, but before he could answer, Thamas interjected, "I'm sorry, you have us at a disadvantage. My name is Thamas, and this is Gen; Gen believes you can help...."

Thamas was cut short by Mika's hand.

"Oh, my goodness! I already know, dears, and yes, I can help you. However, that's not the most concerning issue on your mind. No, you are wondering why you are here, who I am, why this planet is falling apart, and who the five primary races are."

This realization shocked Thamas because these questions had been swirling inside his head for many days. Thamas nodded to Mika, who smiled.

"Thank you, dears, for your honesty. I will answer what I can. You Thamas are here because Ryax, that overly absurd lizard, fired Myrle at you. The revolver you saw. He went against the intergalactic bounty hunter code and, to avoid his third strike, Ryax told the council that you had magical properties," Mika said.

Thamas smiled inwardly and thought, "Ah ha, so there was some law out here, and Ryax was subject to it like everyone else."

"Yes, there is a law system out here. I would say more sophisticated than, how do you say, your United States. Anyway, did you not find it curious how you survived a lightning strike from Ryax?" Said Mika.

"Indeed, I did. I figured I was one of the lucky ones who escaped without real harm," Thamas said as Mika laughed.

"AH, lucky is for those who have no control of themselves. No, when that bolt hit you. It awakened the sleeping mana that all humans have within them. Even now, just a bit of magic used on Earth has started a chain of events that will cause people to realize their latent potential."

"No, that's terrible. People from my planet are not ready for that kind of change. They will rip themselves apart," Thamas said as Mika's smile lessened.

"You have no faith in humanity, I see. It's understandable, but try to see it from a parent's viewpoint. Your race is still young, yet it has survived every cataclysm and rebounded," Mika said as Thamas nodded.

"Something doesn't make sense. If Ryax knew I had magical properties, why did he look so surprised when I demonstrated my powers?" Thamas asked as Mika smiled widely.

"Well, of course, he did not know. He merely assumed and told the council that you would be left in my care," Mika said as Gen sat up; he dozed off.

"Why was I not informed?" Gen asked.

"Because it remained to be seen if Thamas here would indeed develop powers. And having you watch over him was the perfect move because you knew of my existence," Mika said, turning back to Thamas.

"Now, I shall tell you about myself. This planet is my birthplace. I lived here for eons, and it was a splendid world. The sunlight you have seen outside in the garden is but a taste of my world's beauty. Unlike your race, Thamas, we Ellooeans are a race of three sexes. There were two, but we grew and evolved past the need for just two types. We evolved to the point of living for thousands of years before succumbing to the eternal sleep everyone must take. My world was once beautiful," Mika said as they stopped momentarily to wipe a tear away from their eye.

"What happened to your world?" Thamas asked, trying to sound sympathetic.

Suddenly, Mika glowed a bright crimson as their face showed anger. "It happened four thousand years ago. I remember it to this day. I was a young mage in training then, and the city of Call was the center of magic in the universe. My father ruled over this city and couldn't have been prouder that his child was training to be a mage. But that was not to last. There will be the opposite wherever there's good and wholesome magic in the world. A necromancer named Ryisxrix laid siege to our beautiful world, killing my father and polluting this land with dark magic. The people were transformed into horrible, mindless monsters. Their souls are trapped inside, never resting until the spell is released or the caster dies."

"Why did you not challenge this Ryisxrix?" Gen asked as Mika smiled at him.

"Oh, little one, for all my power, it pales compared to Ryisxrix. I attempted to once, but I barely made it out alive. No, someone much stronger than I must do it," Mika said as they turned to Thamas.

"Wait, you want me to do it? But I'm nothing. I'm a nobody. I barely have any friends," Thamas said as Mika smiled and the crimson glow faded.

"If you believe that, then why are you here? You could have gone any direction, could have failed to listen to Gen, and gone your own way, but you followed. In every situation, you acted with bravery and nobility. Both qualities are hardly notable for a nobody. I will not coerce you, but I will ask. Please, help me to free my world."

Thamas looked into those soft pink eyes and found the pleading of a being in need. He could not look the other way.

He nodded and said, "However, I need to train. I cannot control my powers and cannot help if my powers are on the fritz."

Mika squealed with joy.

However, before they could celebrate, a large explosion rocked the tower. Thamas ran to the window and saw several massive spaceships in the sky with thousands of troops marching toward the tower.

"Mika, what's that?" Thamas asked.

"It's Ryrisrix. He's found my tower. You must go. I can hold them for now, but you must get to safety," Mika said as the ships unleashed a barrage of fire on the tower.

The shield shook violently as the tower rocked. Pieces of the interior cracked with pieces falling around them.

"GO NOW!" Mika shouted. A piece of rubble falls from the ceiling, grazing Mika's head as silver blood gushes from the wound.

"Mika!" Gen shouted.

Mika rose and opened another door. Thamas felt flung again through a door, landing inside a massive room full of books. Gen landed next to him as the two looked up and saw Mika looking at them with tears falling.

"Please, save this planet, do not let the darkness win," Mika said, closing the portal before Gen or Thamas could rush back through.

Part 8

Thamas and Gen stared, looking for the portal that no longer existed. The place was dark, with the only illumination coming from the skylight far above their heads. Thamas could not tell how high the ceiling was, but the light was enough for them to walk. The place smelled musky, causing Thamas' nose to recoil, but underneath that, Thamas smelt the familiar scent of paper. As Thamas looked, tall shelves were loaded with books of different sizes throughout the place. The sight was all too familiar as Thamas had spent many hours studying in the same place at Yale.

"Where are we?" Gen asked as Thamas touched one of the books, causing a flash of bright blue light and blinding them momentarily. When they looked back, witch lights illuminated the entire space, revealing a massive tower with thousands upon thousands of books lining the walls and shelves, all glowing with a faint aura of different types. Thamas looked up and saw the ceiling far above them.

"It looks like we're in a library of some sort," Thamas said as Gen gasped behind him. Thamas turned around and found Gen looking at a plaque on the wall.

"Human, we're not just in any library. Mika was wise to send us here. Do you have any idea what this place is?" Gen said as Thamas shook his head.

"Don't be thick! Think! You're a mage in need of training, and where does one go if they need training?" Gen asked.

"To school... Are we in a school?" Thamas asked.

"Yes, and no. The school here is long gone, but the power of the primary races protects this library. No one can break it, not even Rysirix." Gen said as comprehension spread across Thamas' face.

"So, the books I will need are in here somewhere?" Thamas asked, looking at all the books and hoping desperately he would not be stuck here for years looking for these books. He liked to study, but this was on another level.

"Actually, the book you need is basic-level magic control. Mages typically develop their powers along the way. At least, that is what I have observed," Gen said as Thamas shot him a look.

"And how many mages have you observed?" Thamas asked as Gen grinned.

"About two or three."

"Great! Well, I guess we better start looking. I think we should split up to cover more ground," Thamas said as Gen eyed him for a minute.

"That is the first intelligent thing you've said on this entire trip, human," Gen said with a laugh.

"All right, don't be an ass," Thamas said as Gen laughed and walked away.

Thamas shook his head and walked in the opposite direction. As he walked, the once-cold room warmed to a pleasant temperature, and Thamas was elated to find himself in a library again. Even this one far from home, Thamas felt at ease, but he was always a bookworm. As a child, while other kids would be outside playing games, Thamas would be inside reading and dreaming of faraway places. Unfortunately, this led other kids to bully Thamas relentlessly. As a result, he studied martial arts most of his life and has defended himself on many occasions.

Thamas turned a corner and found himself in a peculiar library section. Though the air felt warm, the cold energy chill flowed towards Thamas like a wave. Thamas started to turn away when a book illuminated and entranced him. The language changed to English as the book read Chaos: A Natural Guide on the cover. Thamas felt the enormous pull, as if hooked by chains, and slowly dragged back towards the book.

Suddenly, the book lanced out its power and hit Thamas with a blast of energy. Thamas flew back and crashed to the floor, gasping for breath and withstanding the searing pain. Slowly, Thamas got to his feet and looked down to see an emblem of chaos with arrows pointing in different directions glowing on his shirt before fading from view. No other marks were visible as Thamas took stock of everything. He looked back at the place where the book was and could no longer feel the cold wave emanating from it.

"What the hell was that?" Thamas asked as he looked around and saw a faint golden light in the distance. As he came close, he could hear something similar to an angelic choir singing faintly. Thamas looked at the golden light and noticed it was a book entitled The Mage's Arcana. He slowly took the book from the shelf and felt a rush of warm air flow through his soul.

"This might actually help. I have to show Gen," Thamas said as he walked back toward Gen. As Thamas neared a row of books, he heard the slight hiccup of someone crying on the other side of the bookcase. He slowly came around the corner to find Gen sitting on the floor and sobbing softly into his hands as a book laid out next to him.

Thamas slowly sat on the floor next to him and picked up the book. The page showed a Kobold family spending time together and eating around a table. Thamas slowly put a hand on Gen's shoulder, who shuddered but did not pull away.

"You must think me weak. I lived for many centuries, and not a day goes by when I do not miss them. They were my whole world, my whole life. But because of the stupid primates and humans like you, my family was killed in front of me. I...I couldn't save them...I couldn't save anyone. I was a leader. I was a king, and I failed. We did not ask to be dream walkers, but the five primary races handed that task to us, and we understood our role," Gen shuddered as he looked up at Thamas.

"I spent my whole life hating primates, but you come along and wreck all my perceptions. That fucking Ryax, this is all his fault," Gen said as he seethed angrily.

"I'm sorry. Speaking honestly, we humans are pretty awful to each other. We are capable of incredible acts of cruelty, but someday, I hope you find that not all humans are like that," Thamas said as they sat on the floor for a long time before anyone spoke.

"As I said, human. You have wrecked my perceptions. I wanted to hate you, but I cannot. I might be old, but my observational skills are still intact. Anyway, what's that?" Gen said as he pointed out the book in Thamas' hand.

"Oh, this? The book cover said The Mage's Arcana. I thought it might be useful," Thamas said as Gen snatched it from his hands.

"Oh, yes, this will be useful. Typically, when a Mage creates a spell, it gets recorded in this book. Do you realize what you found? It can teach you every spell you need to be a powerful mage. But first..." Gen hands Thamas another book. "I found the book for controlling mage powers. I would start with that before learning any of these spells," Gen said as Thamas looked indignant but understood.

Suddenly, they heard a voice from the library's far side. "Ah, the library of King Yarq! So many fond memories."

Thamas and Gen looked up to see Rysirix standing there, backed by a squad of soldiers.

"Tell me. Did Mika think that sending you here would save you from me?" Rysirix said as Thamas took a good look at him and did a double-take. The necromancer looked exactly like Ryax, with dark purple scales as the only distinction.

Part 9

Rysirix unleashed his energy in a dark purple and sickly green mixture, launching it at Thamas and Gen, who raised their hands in defense. Thamas waited for the pain to spread across his body, but after waiting a few moments, he opened his eyes to see the blast inches from his face. Gen and Thamas backed away quickly as they noticed the energy of the magic being absorbed by nodes at various points in the tower.

"Heh, I forgot about that feature with this library. The Five Prime Races protect this library. Not even I can override their protection spells and technology. But that still will not save you from me," Rysirix said as he pointed at Gen and Thamas. "SOLDIERS! DESTROY THEM!"

Gen and Thamas turned into a row of shelves and fled for their lives. Gen led the way, turning this way and that. Thamas lost track after the first dozen turns but kept following Gen.

"You think you can hide from me? You are gravely mistaken!" The necromancer said as the soldiers fired pulse rifles at Gen and Thamas. Nearby books exploded as the beams of light made contact, causing Thamas and Gen to jump. They turn another corner, fleeing down a long narrow row of books, and pass through an archway.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in this section became still. Thamas noticed the cold chill as he wrapped his arms around himself. This section of the library looked destitute as cobwebs decorated the walls, and a thick layer of dust lay over everything.

"What...what is this place," Thamas asked, trying to catch his breath.

"It should...look familiar," Gen said as Thamas wondered what he meant by that.

Thamas picked up a book, brushed away all the dust, and read the cover titled Project Earthing: Developing Highly Intelligent Primates. Thamas felt slightly confused, but the sound of soldiers yelling nearby distracted him. He ducked down beside the shelf and crept closer to Gen.

Thamas grabbed the wall for support but felt something come loose in his hands, causing him to fall onto his back. He yelped slightly as he landed and looked at the object in his hand. It was long and slender, with a jewel of unknown origin still at the top. The entire rod was silver, with constellations engraved over the surface that seemed to glow with shimmering light.

"Gen, what is this?" Thamas asked as Gen's eyes grew wide.

Suddenly, a blast hits the wall next to them, cutting off Gen's response as Thamas quickly rises and follows Gen down a row of books.

"THERE THEY ARE! AFTER THEM!" A soldier shouted as they chased Thamas and Gen.

"Head for the door!" Gen shouted as Thamas looked up and saw a door at the far end of the library. They ran out from the cover of the shelves, and Thamas noticed a soldier aiming at them. Again, time slowed for Thamas as the soldier fired the pulse rifle, and Thamas closed his eyes. He waited for the searing pain, but it never came. Several things happened at once.

Thamas felt and heard the ground behind him thump, accompanied by the sound of tiles on the floor breaking. Next, he saw a massive figure with an energy shield absorbing the pulse rounds. After that, he felt something wrap around him and noticed a blue tail picking him up and throwing him toward the door. Thamas skipped across the ground and crashed next to the door, narrowly avoiding Gen.

"GEN! GET HIM OUT OF HERE! NOW! I WILL HOLD THEM OFF!" The figure said as Thamas recognized the voice.

Thamas looked up to see Ryax with an energy shield and what looked like a laser version of a Gatlin Gun. Ryax was laying down suppression fire to cover their escape, and Thamas was angry that he once again had to be rescued by his abductor.

Gen pulled Thamas back to his feet as they ran through the door. Thamas noticed they were on top of a plateau with remnants of a once beautiful school around them. The structure resembled an ancient Grecian villa of kings. Now the place was vacant and overgrown with vegetation. Thamas looked out at the horizon and noticed more ruins of a city that existed long ago.

Suddenly, the door to the library exploded as Ryax flew past them into a wall that crumbled down on top of him. Thamas looked back towards the library and noticed a gaping hole with green eyes glowing in the darkness.

"Try as you might, brother, but I was always the better fighter," Rysirix said as he exited the shadows with his hand extended. "Now, die!"

Thamas felt himself react before a single thought entered his mind. He launched himself between Ryax and Rysirix holding out his arms wide. Gen yelled after Thamas, but at that moment, Gen's voice was drowned out by Rysirix launching his attack. Thamas once again waited for the end, but something odd happened.

The rod in Thamas' hand exploded with a prism of color and extended itself around his body. Rysirix's blast hit, causing the two energies to crack like thunder. Thamas struggled as he pointed the rod at Rysirix and pushed back the sickly green energy.

"That silly rod cannot compare to my power, boy!" Rysirix said as he intensified the blast and pushed the energy back to Thamas.

Thamas felt the strain on his body to maintain the effort. He felt blood leaking from his nose as the sheer effort was too great for him. However, he continued to hold, fearing the worst possible outcome.

Suddenly, a lightning bolt hit Rysirix in the side, launching him into the air and flying back into the library. Ryax was leaning against a wall for support, blood running down his face from a nasty gash on his head and panting as he held his pistol outstretched.

"Don't underestimate me, brother," Ryax said as the soldiers surrounded them.

Ryax spun the revolver chamber to orange and pulled the trigger. Suddenly, a flame thrower shot forth from the gun, incinerating all enemies it touched. Thamas let the energy die as he fell to his knees, barely able to move.

After a few moments, Thamas felt an odd warming sensation and looked up to see Mika standing there, offering him her hand. Thamas took it and instantly felt himself speeding through a tunnel of light. Thamas landed on what looked like a soft bed and saw nothing but pure white light.

"Am I dead?" Thamas asked.

"No, my dear. You are very much alive. Although you were close," said Mika as he felt her hand on his forehead.

"Why is it so bright?" Thamas asked as Mika giggled.

"Maybe you should open your eyes, Thamas," Mika said as Thamas slowly opened his eyes and noticed the sunlight coming through an open window.

"Where are we?" Thamas asked as he slowly sat up.

"We are in the one place Rysirix can never find. I was able to preserve this place as a last haven in case my tower was ever compromised. It's...where I was raised," Mika said as Thamas nodded and looked around the room.

Ryax was sitting in a corner, looking out the window as Gen read the book he found in the library of the Kobold families. Thamas could not help but admire the situation.

"For a human, you are braver than I thought," Ryax said, looking out the window.

"I didn't even think. I just reacted," Thamas said as Gen looked up from his book.

"Quite foolishly, I may add, human," Gen said with anger in his voice. "When will you stop jumping into situations greater than you can handle?"

"Not any time soon. Look, when someone needs help, I will always help. It is just who I am," Thamas said as he looked at Ryax and noticed the bandages around his head. Gen looked a little defeated, but before he could say anything, Ryax spoke.

"The Kobold is correct. It is foolish to risk your life senselessly. However, perhaps the council was right about you," Ryax said as Thamas looked confused.

"Right, about what?" Thamas asked as Ryax turned from the window to Thamas.

"That maybe you are the one who cleans up this shithole of a planet," Ryax said.