Fantacia. Chapter 13

13
Sword shopping
Everyone entered the door of the small shop and the bell rang out that was hanging above it, a shop keeper appeared from the beaded curtain and immediately smiled at Orion as he saw him.
He then turned to Fantacia “Ah, Princess...” His voice was deep and quiet. “I see you have brought your Son,” his face lit up with surprise. “And what is this, a Human warrior?” he approached Stu almost gliding towards him.
“Yes it is,” Fantacia said, she stood to one side watching him shake Stu’s hand. “Stu can you remember our city warrior leader, Hyedan!”
Orion had seen him before at other meetings, drinking in the pub and at his ceremony with his family.
Orion was about to ask how his wife and daughter were out of politeness, when Azaya walked into the room through the beaded curtain. There she stood in all her beauty, Orion smiled awkwardly going slightly flushed. He was rendered speechless for a few minutes, he then managed to compose himself enough to smile at her properly.
Azaya on the other hand was not as shy, she walked up to them all, individually hugging and kissing them one by one. Orion was the last of course, but that did not make it any less painful for him, as his face turned a beautiful shade of red.
Hyedan stood and looked on just for a minute, he began to walk back through the beaded curtains and into the next room, gesturing for them all to follow.
“This is my exhibit room, I want to show you this room first, because there are a few rare swords I would love you to see,” Hyedan said with some enthusiasm.
Stu followed excitedly, Orion was still recovering from the kiss he had just been given by Azaya, he was still smiling and scarlet faced, rubbing the spot on his cheek with his hand, he had gone into a temporary daydream.
“ORION!” Fantacia said digging into his side with her elbow.
Fantacia grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into the next room, he snapped out of his daydream immediately and began to follow.
“Just keep up,” Drakos said looking back at Azaya, who had found this very amusing.
Hyedan had also seen the funny side, he whispered something to Azaya and then said quiet loudly “Now stop misbehaving.”
She grinned at her father playfully, then began to swish her long skirt, which was deep purple velvet with black lace, she wore black lace fingerless gloves and a black lace top, Orion could not stop looking at her.
Azaya then left the room for a few minutes to bring the warriors drinks to make them feel welcome.
In Vox a sword was the most important thing anyone could have, Hyedan felt honoured that the Royal family and a Human who had been taken on as a warrior, had come to him for their weapons, but he did own the only sword shop in Capalia.
Hyedan wanted the new warriors to feel that they could take their time and look carefully.
A sword to a Voxian was more important than choosing a house.
As they all entered the room at the back, it was plush, it had deep red carpeting and curtains, there were a number of glass cases all with four swords on display in them, beautiful and well made, masterpieces in their own right.
“This sword is the traditional Voxian sword, the blade is silver so can kill both Voxian and Vardu if need be,” Hyedan said picking one out of a case nearby.
The hilt was white, carved with a pattern of three moons and a distant Voxian sun, with a traveller standing on a mountain side. Never before had the boys seen such craftsmanship on a swords hilt, but let’s face it not many normal Earthbound men do actually own swords. It had gold trim and when it was handed to Stu, he couldn’t believe how light it was, it weighed next to nothing.
Stu handed it over to Orion, who stood back from the crowd and began to swing it in all directions, jabbing and keeping it steady in his hand, it was natural for him to use it.
Hyedan looked impressed as the boy aimed at the targets set up in the room and never missed one.
“Hmm...Orion perhaps then you would consider this,” Hyedan said.
Hyedan pulled out a sword which had sat alone in its case, it had a gold trim on its blade, it had writing on it...

For the man who could stand up
for those who are weaker.

The sword was carved with a cream coloured picture on a red hilt, it had the Earth, the sun and in the distance the Mythus nebula, gold leaf trim, it was just outstanding.
When Hyedan handed the sword over it was like a feeling that Orion had never experienced, a rush of warmth entered his body and the sword felt like it was suddenly a part of him.
Orion felt nothing but the sword, it was like it had been there all the time, sat in his hand, but it felt lighter than air.
“I think this one likes me,” he said.
“I think so too,” Hyedan said, looking at Fantacia.
“This sword was made by our own King, your Great Grandfather...Kathos,” Hyedan smiled at Orion.
Orion carried on swishing it through the air.
“It was to be used in the fight against Belial, I believe that Kathos never thought it would find a user, because he had made it so specifically, he will be so pleased to know that you, his own Grandson will be bonded to it,” Hyedan said.
Hyedan turned to Fantacia, she looked on with amazement, she could remember the story of the great sword, the story of how no one was able to use it and now she stood with her son who had been chosen to own it.
“It’s a big thing then, this sword thing?” Stu said. “King Arthur comes to mind, not the legend, the cartoon!” Stu smiled at Orion who pointed the sword in his direction, mockingly.
“Yes swords are important, you will find one just as worthy that will suit you my boy, I promise, we have a lot more to look at yet,” Hyedan said.
Stu carried on searching the cases, then suddenly he came to a stop.
“This one! I mean can I try this please,” Stu said pointing to a case next to him.
“Yes of course!” Hyedan smiled.
Hyedan pulled out the sword from the case, this one had a silver blade, the hilt was a picture of a Voxian deer running through the forest with a hunter giving chase, it was white ivory making it look a little anaemic.
Hyedan handed the sword to Stu, he too felt the same warm feeling as Orion had, as the sword accepted his Human hand.
“Perfect,” he said.
Stu did what Orion had done, he played with the sword, swinging it, he was just as natural with it as his Voxian friend and again the sword was like a part of him.
With credits exchanged for their new weapons, he could now go into combat and train with his warrior friends. Stu decided that he would stay in the city to begin with and then join the others for mountain training later, once he got the hang of things.
Stu was Human and it would be safer for him to know all strategies of fighting, the Voxians did not want to take a chance with him losing his life, especially if they had not covered all training with him, he needed to be prepared for every eventuality.

The sky at night
Walking back up the street to the shop with the telescope in the window which once again came back into Orion’s sight, he was still playing with his new sword, but felt it may be a better idea if he did not enter another shop with it in his hands, so gave it to his father to put in the car.
Orion had no long coat yet, so he had decided to go back at a later date to buy one. In the mean time, Phoenix had left an old jacket in red with black patterning that he could use, Phoenix had boxed it only weeks before his death and given it to Orion when he was only 10 years old.
“Bit big for you now, but believe me you’ll grow into it,” Orion remembered the old man saying to him when he handed him the box.
Orion would play pirate in it and hide all sorts of treasures in the deep pocket on the inside of it, it got ripped, Fantacia suggested he put it away and she would sew it for him. He had put it in the beautifully designed box that he been given and had forgotten about it until now.
Orion quickened his pace, it was only seconds before he was outside the map shop again.
Orion stood looking inside at the telescope for a while, studying the maps that moved, no one else seemed that impressed, they seemed to ignore it all and just walked on by.
Orion stood watching as stars exploded and comets moved through the map, he definitely was impressed.
He didn’t recognise any of the constellations at first and then he cast his mind back to those few months before when he was on his great-grandfather’s spaceship, he remembered the journey to Vox from Titan that Kathos made a very big deal about, he realised that this was the Mythus nebula, his planet stood out and was as familiar as Earth to him now, the map also showed Isis and Reptilia, all of the different moons, including a star with a small orange glow, the Mythus Sun.
Orion pushed the door open and went inside the shop, the others appeared to be all shopped out, none had any real interest in star maps and they just wanted to eat. They all planned to meet at a cafe near the car park an hour later.
Orion stepped inside the shop alone.
The shops walls inside were dark blue with golden stars painted on them, badly. The windows to the outside world were on every side, big and very bright, letting every bit of light in the shop possible, so having a dark night sky on the walls just didn’t really have a lot of effect. It was strange because over the painted night skies were row upon row of poster holders, all full of these maps that moved, all the different galaxies, Andromeda, the Milky Way was there and so was Mythus, it could be fair to believe that everywhere in the Universe seemed to be covered.
Orion stood admiring his surroundings in silence.
The door at the side of the shop opened, an old man walked through it, this shocked Orion, because this was the first time he had seen anyone who looked older than about thirty on this planet.
Orion watched as the man approached him, still saying nothing.
The old man stroked his long white beard looking very interested in Orion. He wore a long dark blue wizard’s cloak, he had very long white hair that went right down his back hitting his posterior, all that was missing was a pair of rounded silver rimmed glasses and a wizard’s hat, he could have been Merlin’s double from the stories of the round table.
“Good morning young Prince, what can I do for you on this bright afternoon?” the man asked.
Orion stood staring, this man was like looking at a cartoon character.
“Can I help you?” The man said smiling now, trying to prompt conversation with Orion.
Orion woke up again.
“Oh, I apologise, I am a bit of a day dreamer sometimes...I am looking for three items,” Orion said a little red faced.
The old man put his hand up to stop Orion from speaking “No apology needed my boy... Let me see, ah, yes I have a good quality telescope, a map of both Earth and the planets around it, also a map of Mythus like the one in the window,” he said smiling mysteriously.
“I...I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name,” Orion asked very confused.
‘How the Hell did this guy know what he had thought when he was outside the shop earlier?’
“Orion, I am Mallick the Grand wizard of Vox,” Mallick said bowing with his large white grin.
Orion gave the man a look of disbelief, his scientific brain went into ‘reject the information’ mode, could this be real madness? This man was now even claiming to be a wizard.
‘Trouble is,’ Orion thought, ‘am I supposed to play along and be nice? Or should I just say what a croc? Nah... Be nice, after all this guy is bigger than me!’
“I am a lot older than I look, I came here with your great Grandfather Kathos many years ago. I am from the planet of spirits and winged men, hence I age slowly, but obviously your great Grandfather doesn’t age at all,” said Mallick trying to give Orion some kind of explanation.
Orion just stared for a minute, what was this guy? He already looked older than God, what did he mean he was a lot older than he looked. He must have been a gazillion years old.
“I am not a Prince, please just call me Orion, I still haven’t got my head around the whole Royal thing yet,” Orion smiled.
Mallick laughed and began walking over to Orion, he shook his hand “I would be honoured to call you Orion, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. You can call me Mal. I am sure we will be great friends. Now, how big do you want your maps?” said Mallick.
“10 X 10 feet, is that possible?”Orion said a little unsure.
“Oh yes, of course it is. Where are you planning to hang them?” Mallick said.
“On the ceiling area of my bedroom,” Orion said.
Mallick laughed, “You have a bedroom?” Mallick looked curiously at Orion “I do apologise, I forgot that you spent your childhood on Earth, it must be strange for your family to see you sleep, you are aware as a Voxian you really don’t need to.”
Orion smiled at Mallick and said. “Yes, I think after years on Earth, I have the habit, it doesn’t make me feel any more or less energetic, I’m already feeling on tip top form right now, although we all slept when we lived on Earth, including Mother.”
Mallick gave a laugh, finding this news a little amusing.
“That’s nothing, you wait and see, the longer you spend here, the more your power will build. I can help you a little later down the line, when you have discovered all you can about your abilities,” Mallick said.
“Thanks Mal, I look forward to that.” Orion said letting Mallick through to get to the counter.
Mallick wrapped the moving maps and the Telescope was boxed, he suggested that Orion get someone to help him carry it, but Orion shook his head, he was okay, he picked everything he had bought up and carried it out of the shop.
Orion turned back.
“One thing before I leave,” he said.
“Yes of course, anything!” Mallick smiled
“The maps constantly move. Can I ask how?” said Orion.
“Ah!” Mallick looked like an old philosopher who had just had a eureka moment. “Well, as you know, we all have our callings and rarely one becomes a map maker, they travel through the different solar systems, mapping out and photographing the different galaxies, you should ask Raidar’s oldest Son, when he reappears here, he can tell you about everything, after all that is his line of work. When they come home, we use their work to make maps, the skies are ever changing, the stars, comets and other Galaxies debris move about. We can change the maps digitally on computer systems, so once you have bought one, you will never need to update it, we do that for you,” Mallick leaned further over his shop counter. “With our technology we can put any new information on the maps and it will remain changing as the skies do. Did you know that the only reason you cannot see stars in the day on Earth is because...” Mallick was then interrupted.
“Yes, the daylight is too bright for them to shine through,” Orion said.
Orion smiled at Mallick, he knew he would be seeing a lot of him.
Mallick smiled at Orion and the two exchanged glances that made them realise they would be friends for a long time.
Orion then exited the shop and left to meet the others.

Walking down the silent streets Orion headed towards the car.
A scream echoed out behind one of the large buildings, it was surprising and small, like a child’s and it startled him.
Orion looked to the side of the building where the noise came from, the alleyway was dark but his eyes adjusted very quickly. As he ran up the alleyway a large figure appeared, there at the back stood a Vardu, it had grabbed a little girl, she was sobbing and struggling to get away from the creature that had a hold on her by her clothing, she was being pushed against the wall of the building.
Orion immediately dropped his packages and charged, attack mode came into play, white fangs out, as he raced toward the girl and the Vardu, its dirty yellow teeth poised ready to bite into the girl’s small neck.
She screamed.
Orion’s anger surged.
“Hey you, bloaty face put her down you bastard!” Orion shouted.
The Vardu turned, its teeth on display, red eyes filled with what looked like blood.
Orion sped towards the Vardu, it dropped the child, hissing and then smiling at what he believed would be his next victim.
Orion’s white fangs were full length for maximum bite, it then suddenly occurred to him that he had sent his sword back to the car.
The Vardu suddenly froze for a while, it spotted something in the distance and then tried to hide itself in a corner, Orion quickly looked behind him, the number of warriors had gone now from one to two.
Orion turned back and smiled at the creature and readied himself to fight.
“Wait! Orion” the second voice shouted.
It was Stu, who threw Orion his sword and ran pulling his own out, now he stood at his friend’s side.
“It’s okay dude, I’ll be your back up, practice my sword fighting,” Stu said.
The Vardu began to fade away, turning to spirit, it seeped into the ground and the child ran towards Stu.
Stu immediately began to check her neck.
“It’s okay dude, she hasn’t been bitten,” Stu said to Orion, he hugged the little girl to comfort her, she was still crying. “It’s alright little lady, you’re safe now.”
An irate mother could be heard in the streets outside the alleyway calling “please Lizia where are you?”
“I am here Mommy, here!” The little girl responded giving one last sniff wiping her tears away.
The girl then jumped from Stu’s arms and ran out of the alleyway, Orion and Stu followed her.
“A Vardu, Mommy, a Vardu!” The little girl said as she began to sob again. Her mother pulled out her sword, it became obvious she was a city warrior.
“Stay here!” But her daughter stayed clinging to her, pulling at her.
Orion and Stu walked out of the alley, putting away their swords.
“It’s okay, we found her in time,” Orion said as the two of them approached.
“I owe you my life my Prince, thank you for saving my Daughter.”
Orion shuddered, mumbling to himself. “Why do people insist on the Prince stuff, I hate it?” He shook his head, but smiled politely.
The two men turned to walk back to the car.
“Are you leaving now?” Lizia said she ran hugging into Orion now, “Thanks, not Prince,” the little girl laughed.
Orion smiled and hugged back slightly less comfortable than Stu, he liked kids but always made the joke that he couldn’t eat a whole one.
“Orion, please, my name is Orion. I am sure anyone would have helped you sweetheart, you must take care and always stay close to your Mother,” he said.
Stu also got a hug and then the two friends left waving at the girl.
Everyone was waiting for them.
“Find anything interesting?” Halen asked.
“Not really, bought a few maps, saved a little girl from a stinkin’ Vardu, all in a day’s work!” Orion said smiling at Stu.
“Nothing too exciting then?” said Halen unaffected shrugging.
“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” Stu said.
The boys climbed into the back of the jeep this time, Orion included.
“Tell you what Father, I think you should drive, all that threatening behaviour takes it out of one,” Orion said sarcastically, smiling.
Drakos shrugged and began moaning about the youth of today, ‘lazy bleeders’ he called them, while the others looked at one another smirking, at least Drakos was consistent, they could always rely on him to moan.
Orion started copying his father, saying what he was saying only just after Drakos said it, they all started to sman.
“Orion you can stop that right now,” Drakos snapped.
The car fell silent.
Drakos turned and started the engine of the jeep, the men all smiled at one another smaning just a little, but quietly to themselves now.
“Home James!” Stu said.
The men laughed again, Drakos shook his head and they headed back to the Manor Estate.