A Quest Of Blood Stone

The story begins by showing a girl packing some of her valuable items. It was night-time, and she went to one of the rooms, which was filled with the sounds of snoring. She was going to stick a note on the door but, with a smirk, she dismissed the idea. She closed the front door and walked down the steps, turning for one last goodbye before continuing on her way. She carried a briefcase in which all her valuable things were kept.

She wandered to a railway station, which was vacant. There was no crowd except on platform No. 303. Men were dressed decently, wearing long leather jackets and hats. The women dressed similarly, with their hair tied back with black ribbons. It was 1:30 PM, and the train could arrive at any moment. Everyone was praying, and some people were shedding tears. The girl was nervous, and her hands were trembling. The train received a green signal, not from a station master, but from a raven. It put in 100 percent effort to alert the train that it was safe to stop at the station. You might be wondering why I did not mention the names of the locomotive pilot or the station master. It is simple because this train does not have such members to navigate.

The train arrived at the station, equipped with ultrasound glass and automatic doors. The girl was mesmerized by the train's error-free functioning. The queue started to form, and with timid footsteps, the girl followed the crowd. The first person, with unwavering determination, stood before the doors. However, the doors didn't move. This created a slight nervousness for the girl. The queue moved forward, but the doors remained closed. Now it was her turn. She gathered her courage and approached the doors. For a few minutes, the doors did not budge. She understood her fate and, with a faint smile, was about to step back. Then, with a slow noise, the doors opened. Everyone was in awe, some trying to understand what special powers she possessed, while others envied her. The girl stood stunned, unable to believe her luck. After a moment, a subtle smile wrapped in astonishment, she forced herself to take the first step. She entered the train and made herself comfortable in a window seat. The rest of the crowd peeped through the window, and she was afraid to make eye contact with them. However, she was keen to know who the next passenger would be. The train vanished from the station in the blink of an eye.

Her brain was in dismay, and her inner voice burst forth, asking the same question: "Why only her?" Was she fortunate, or was something big yet to come? As the train gained speed, her heart pounded. Her courage wavered, but somehow, she got up and took a small step across the section, which was empty. When she returned to her seat, she found an old man waiting for her. However, he looked different from a normal human being: he had gigantic ears, a sharp nose, and fangs that made him resemble a vampire. He wore a black gown. The girl couldn't take her eyes off him, and in a low voice, she asked, "Who are you, sir?" The man replied, "Nice to meet you, Ema. I am the Watcher." This was the first time in the story where Ema was being introduced formally. Ema felt awful and asked, "How do you know my name?" The man burst into laughter and said, "I know everything, including the reason you are here! You will receive what you want, but only if you fulfill my wish." Ema said, "How can I believe you?" The man replied, "Belief is just an illusion. Ask your heart first!" She then asked, "What do you want?" The man continued, "I can grant your wish only if you find the remaining pieces of this blood stone." Ema wondered, blood stone? (It was a red stone in an irregular shape) The man continued, "Yes! My poor baby stone is desperately waiting to meet its remaining pieces. Will you do it for me?" Ema asked, "Sir, why do you want me to do it? You are well enough to do it alone." The man replied, "Nothing comes for free! You give me what I want, and I will grant your wish." Ema was in the midst of chaos when the man yelled, "Hey! Either choose or leave, like half of mankind do, quitting their dreams in fear of risk." Ema did not take another moment and said, "I am ready." However, her heart sank into the deep ocean of fear. The Watcher chuckled and said, "Well, well, I expected nothing less from you. But don't worry, I have a companion for you!" He recited a spell, and a rabbit, in a mild sleep, appeared. It woke up uninterestedly, wearing a sick expression, and said, "Hello, sir." The Watcher turned to Ema and said, "Meet your partner, Domby." Ema was delighted to see him; after all, she had someone to rely on during this quest. She greeted him, but he ignored her. The Watcher turned to Ema and said, "All the best! I'll meet you soon."

Ema looked perplexed, staring at Domby as he walked towards the door and gave a final look to Ema before jumping. Ema couldn't believe what she saw. Without thinking, she ran towards the door and jumped!

Chapter 1: The Reunion

Domby fell to the ground, his spectacles dropping beside him. After a minute of searching, he found his spectacles and put them back on. He glanced up at the sky, but it was too late—Ema fell on top of him. He exclaimed, "You foolish creature, get off me!" She quickly got off and felt remorseful. She asked, "Why did you jump without saying a word?" Domby responded assertively, "Don't you dare question me. I am your master on this journey, understood?" They heard a woman's cry for help in the distance. Ema followed the sound without answering, and Domby followed her angrily. They arrived at a crowded market where a woman was being beaten by a group of individuals dressed as warriors, clearly soldiers of the kingdom. One of them was giving instructions, "If any of you dare to break the law, you will face the same consequences." The woman pleaded for assistance, but no one had the courage to intervene in the brutality. Ema felt compelled to help her and took a step forward, but Domby held her back. Domby forcibly gripped her hand, trying to lead her in another direction, but they ended up in a tug of war. A soldier noticed their altercation, and their behavior raised suspicion. Both of them were taken to the castle, a magnificent and grand structure.

The soldier presented them before King Zair in the courtyard. King Zair, a man in his mid-50s with long white hair, a beard, a wrinkled face, bitter eyes, and an evil smile that made him resemble a devil, listened to the soldier's introduction, identifying them as intruders from a foreign land. Domby exclaimed, "No, sir! We lost our way and came here seeking shelter." Zair glared at Ema, who was gazing at the king. The king questioned, "Why are you staring at me?" Ema replied, "I apologize, sir!" But unable to contain herself, she asked, "Why was the woman being treated so cruelly?" Zair took his seat on the throne, exuding arrogance, and responded, "Because she broke my laws, and in Rebania, laws are taken very seriously." Ema persisted, "But the purpose of laws is to protect innocent people!" Zair gripped his arm, his smile fading, and retorted, "My dear child, haven't you learned the lessons of proper behavior?" Ema replied, "I was always taught that a good king would show kindness towards his subjects and the needy. But here it was..." King Zair interrupted melodramatically, "Are you implying that I am an evil king?" Domby interjected, "Absolutely not! She is naive. Please don't take her seriously." King Zair sneered, "Well, well, well, I have found the perfect place for you to seek shelter. I hope you enjoy it!" He then commanded one of the soldiers to escort them to the dungeons.

The dungeon was located in the middle of a forest, resembling more of a cave. The soldier used a spell to open the cave entrance and threw them inside. It was dark, but they could see a faint light in the distance. They proceeded slowly, with Domby cursing the moment he met Ema. Eventually, they reached the end of the cave where a mud lamp illuminated the area. Domby noticed a bump that appeared to be a rock. Angrily, he climbed onto it and argued, "This is all because of you! Why couldn't you keep your mouth shut?" Ema responded, "I felt sympathy for that woman."

Domby bellowed, "Why should it matter to you? Look at the mess your concern has landed us in!" Furious, Ema retorted, "I can't help but wonder why people tolerate this." A harsh voice abruptly interrupted, "Because they have no other choice." It came from the bump, causing Domby to startle and quickly move away. Ema, realizing the source of the voice, helped him regain his composure. They were both stunned to discover a colossal dragon standing before them.

Domby collapsed, and Ema assisted him in getting back on his feet. Ema glared and spoke with a shaky voice, "Who are you? Why do you claim they have no choice?" Domby banged his head against the wall and snapped, "Please, just be quiet. Stop irritating him with pointless questions." The dragon responded, "I am Zambuwa, and I'm certain you must have raised your voice against Zair." Domby interjected, "Yes, she did. How do you know?" The dragon murmured, "I know him very well." Ema took a step forward and inquired, "So, what did you do?" The dragon charged, "I supported him!" Ema and Domby looked puzzled, and the dragon continued, "Don’t you know the history of Rebania?" Domby nodded in agreement, prompting the dragon to proceed, "Well, then you should know."

Once upon a time, Rebania was a magnificent kingdom. Its people lived in peace and happiness. It was ruled by a noble man, King Drunzen. He was a benevolent king who treated his subjects like family. The doors of the kingdom were always open to those in need, just as they were opened to me and Zair. A sense of awe filled the room. Domby asked, "Are you King Zair's companion?" The dragon replied, "Unfortunately, I was." We came to this kingdom seeking refuge.

Zair was a magician, and I was his accomplice. We would perform and travel to different lands, but Zair was never satisfied. He always craved power and wealth. That's why we turned to petty theft, targeting only the affluent without causing harm. I was against it, but he would convince me by saying that if we succeeded, it meant that fate intended it for us. We lived like this until we arrived at this place in search of a permanent home. The locals welcomed us, and we entertained them with our magic tricks. Gradually, we gained popularity, and one day, we had the opportunity to perform before the great King Drunzen. We were invited to mesmerize the courtyard with our magic, and we not only captivated the crowd but also won the favor of the king. Zair continued to showcase his tricks, becoming a familiar face in the courtyard. King Drunzen started enjoying his company and valued his opinion on state matters. This allowed Zair to rise to the position of advisor. Everyone began to like him, except for the Commander-in-Chief, Charles. Charles was an honest, dedicated subject of the kingdom. He deeply cared for his king and the kingdom, more than his own life. He always sensed something suspicious about Zair. Zair attempted to manipulate Charles, but he was unsuccessful.

I had assumed that Zair would be satisfied with his esteemed position as an advisor, but I never realized that he had his eyes set on the throne. Zair understood that he could never achieve his wicked plans as long as Charles was present, so he began to sow discord in the relationship between King Drunzen and Charles. It took him a considerable amount of time, but he eventually succeeded. Charles had to reluctantly leave the kingdom, but he never uttered a word against the king because he knew it was all Zair's doing. Gradually, King Drunzen began to realize his mistake and sensed the evil within Zair. One day, an argument erupted between Zair and King Drunzen. The king expressed his dissatisfaction with Zair's actions and ordered him to be expelled from Rebania. Zair went into a frenzy and ruthlessly killed King Drunzen using black magic. He had learnt the wizardry from his father, and as he grew, he discovered branches of magic that could make him the most powerful person in the world: "Black magic." Despite his father's disapproval, Zair killed him using the very same dark magic. That was the first time he utilized his malevolent powers. When I met him, he appeared to be a person of good heart. Yes, he shared his past, but I believed he had changed. I would have never trusted him if I had known about his sinister intentions.

After King Drunzen's death, Zair's malevolent power forced neighboring countries to surrender to him. Thus, he became the most powerful ruler, and no one dared to oppose him. Some people tried to resist, but they met the same fate as King Drunzen. I pleaded, begged, and fought, but he turned a deaf ear to my words. He lost his trust in me, and that's how I ended up here. The entire kingdom lost hope, and the country was forced to live under the oppressive darkness imposed by Zair.

Domby mourned, saying, "I am deeply sorry to hear this!" Ema, feeling perplexed, asked, "Why didn't he kill you?" The dragon replied, "I am his key." He proceeded to reveal more details, leaving Domby in a state of shock. The dragon then said, "I must stop him, but I need your support!" Domby responded, "No, we cannot. We are not here to risk our lives." The dragon questioned, "Do you believe Zair will ever set you free from this prison?" Ema inquired, "Are you certain about this?" The dragon replied firmly, "Yes, I am, more than anything." Gathering his courage, Domby asked, "Who will accomplish this?" With a subtle smile, the dragon answered, "Charles." Ema interjected, "He was exiled, why do you think he will return?" The dragon replied, "He will because he is willing to sacrifice himself for these people!" Domby inquired, "So, what do you expect us to do? Bring him back?" The dragon nodded. Ema asked, "How can we escape from here?"

The following day, a caretaker arrived at the cage. Ema and Domby cleverly deceived him and made their escape. They set off on their journey to find Charles as the Dragon had instructed. Domby suggested, "Ema, this is a perfect opportunity to flee from this place and search for the stone." Ema responded, "We made a promise to the dragon, and I cannot break it." Domby, with a mischievous grin, muttered, "Watcher, may you suffer in the depths of hell!"

After walking for a few miles, they arrived at Charles' village. Through a series of inquiries with the locals, they managed to locate Charles' humble abode—a small hut lacking any luxuries. Domby knocked on the door, and a towering man opened it. Ema politely requested, "Can we speak with Charles?" He questioned, "Who are you?" Ema replied gently, "We are messengers from the Kingdom of Rebania." His temper flared, and he exclaimed, "How dare you come here! You expelled my loyal friend from the realm. What do you want now?" Ema pleaded, "We only wish to talk to Charles. The situation is critical." Domby interjected himself into the conversation, and tensions began to rise.

In the midst of the commotion, Charles emerged. His commanding presence silenced the room. Despite his middle age, he still exuded elegance and charisma. Charles surveyed Domby and Ema before asking, "Who are you?" His friend took charge and swiftly introduced them. Charles' gaze settled on Ema, and she patiently recounted the entire story, explaining their purpose for being there. Tears welled up in his eyes. He said, "I am well aware of the crisis in Rebania, but I feel helpless." Domby urged, "Listen, sir, you are a true warrior. Zair always saw you as a threat. He was afraid to carry out his wicked plans with you around. Isn't that reason enough to understand that only you can save Rebania?" Charles replied, "I'm not so sure. Rebania never embraced me. I believe its citizens are capable of protecting themselves."

Ema interjected, "What if I were to tell you that King Drunzen acknowledged his mistake and had a plan to recall you, but King Zair prevented it? He mercilessly murdered the king, employing all his dark magic. He pleaded and beseeched, but the wicked Zair reveled in those moments. That's precisely what he's inflicting upon the people of Rebania now. Slowly, the inhabitants are resigning themselves to their fate. Is this what your land, Rebania, deserves? Is this why you swore an oath to defend your country and its people? Once upon a time, your kingdom was renowned for its pride. Now it is infamous as a tyrannical realm, forever marked in history. Is this what you desire?" Charles sobbed and exclaimed, "NO!" A heavy silence hung in the room as everyone contemplated the weight of Ema's powerful words. Charles declared, "I will protect my country with my life. Zair must answer for his actions with his life. We are leaving now!" Domby, still in awe, whispered in Ema's ear, "You were magnificent."

The scene unfolds with a group of soldiers harassing an old man, one of whom aggressively advances towards him to assert dominance. However, Charles steps in to intervene, blocking the soldier's path. Undeterred, the soldier persists, but Charles swiftly resolves the situation by delivering a powerful punch to his face. The soldiers disperse immediately, and the locals express their gratitude and implore Charles to save them, recognizing him as their only hope.

Meanwhile, Zair is engrossed in a game of chess when a soldier rushes to the palace to inform him of Charles' arrival. Zair cunningly remarks, "Ah, he's returned. What shall I do if he desires to meet his demise at my hands?" He commands the soldiers to bring Charles to him. Suddenly, a commanding voice captures his attention—it's Charles. Zair clears the courtyard, leaving only himself and Charles face to face. Charles seethes with anger, yearning to grasp Zair's neck and bury him in the ground. Zair can sense the fury burning in Charles' eyes. Zair greets him, "Hello, my old friend. I had not expected you to risk your life at such a young age." The tension escalates, and Charles can no longer contain himself, taking a step towards Zair. However, something goes wrong—his entire body freezes. It's Zair's black magic taking effect. Just as Zair is about to cast another spell, Charles' unexpected ally launches an attack on Zair, providing Charles with an opportunity to regain his strength. Zair bellows, "I am invincible, you fool!" Suddenly, a voice resonates throughout the space, "No, you are not." All attention turns to the entrance, where a dragon stands alongside Ema and Domby.

Zair is shocked to see the dragon, as if he is losing a battle he thought was already won. The dragon remarks, "Hello, my former partner in crime!" Zair furiously demands, "Who set you free from your prison?" The dragon responds, "I always reminded you about karma, and today it has manifested its miracle." Zair exclaims, "What nonsense are you spouting?" The dragon approaches Charles and says, "I knew you would come. Now it is time to bring an end to this wickedness." Zair's rage reaches its peak, "You wretched creature! I took care of you, and now you side with these people?" The dragon turns, a glimmer of doubt in its eyes, "You never cared for me, Zair. You merely used me." Zair charges, "I trusted you..." The dragon cuts him off, "And you made me the key to your existence." It then looks towards Charles and states, "I am the key to his life. If you wish to end him, you must first kill me. My body will transform into a sword, and you must pierce that sharp blade into his heart." Charles is momentarily speechless, "Why are you sacrificing your life?" The dragon's eyes sparkle, "Because I want to be remembered as a lone warrior who fearlessly fought against evil." Charles responds, "I am honored to meet a true warrior, my friend. But I will not take your life, as I can defeat him on my own terms." Domby adds, "No power can surpass him. Haven't you realized that by now?" The dragon makes the request once again, but Charles remains resolute, ignoring its plea.

Ema cries out, "Chief, it will be challenging, but everything comes at a price!" Zair's gaze shifted to Ema, his voice filled with malice. "Ah, so you're the mastermind. I warned you, but it seems you haven't learned your lesson. Allow me to take care of you," he stepped towards Ema.

The dragon pleaded with Charles, "You must do this, or else..." Charles nodded, his expression filled with melancholy. He took his sword and thrust it into the dragon's massive form. The dragon vanished, leaving behind a sharp, glowing sword. Zair, consumed by anger, charged towards Charles. In one swift motion, Charles flung the sword into the air, caught it by the hilt, and drove it through Zair's heart. Zair shrieked, but his voice transformed into a cruel laughter. Ema and Domby stood bewildered, while Charles remained stoic, his friend rubbing his eyes in disbelief. Zair's face twisted with arrogance. "Hahaha! Did you really think Zair was foolish enough to entrust my life to a pitiful dragon?" Charles realized he needed to buy Ema some time to formulate a plan. He challenged Zair to a duel, and Zair fell for his ruse.

 Ema understood Charles's strategy and slowly retreated from the courtyard, making her way into the palace, followed by Domby. She instructed Domby to search for anything useful. After navigating through Charles's cluttered room, which lacked any discernible color, Ema's prayers were answered. She discovered a manuscript detailing the secrets of Black Magic. Ema and Domby rejoiced and hastily returned to the courtyard.

The duel between Charles and Zair grew intense. Charles fought with all his might but faced slim odds of victory. Just as Zair was about to strike Charles, Ema interrupted, "Charles, you cannot kill Zair because he has hidden his heart within the throne. Look at the ceiling." The mirrored ceiling revealed the truth—the throne was merely an illusion concealing Zair's heart. Ema explained, "Zair, you may be cunning, but you were not clever enough to discard the book that revealed your ultimate downfall." Understanding Ema's words, Charles lunged directly at the throne. Zair had no time to process Ema's revelation. Charles struck the throne, splitting it into two pieces. Zair wailed in pain before ultimately turning to ashes.

After a few days, Rebania had regained its beauty, peace, and charm. Today marked Charles' coronation, and the jubilant subjects embraced him as their new king. The courtyard was filled with thousands of loyal followers. Charles accepted the crown and recited the oath, vowing to free the neighboring countries from oppression. He acknowledged the crowd and called Domby and Ema to join him on the dais. Charles spoke, "This victory was not easily won; it is the result of countless sacrifices, including that of King Drunzen and, most notably, the Dragon. His name will forever be honored in the annals of Rebanian history. Rebania has always welcomed those seeking refuge, and though we may curse the day we allowed Zair into our land, we were fortunate to have two extraordinary outsiders who saved us from his wickedness. Thank you, Ema and Domby, for never giving up on me and my people. This kingdom will forever be grateful to both of you!" He presented them with small tokens of appreciation. The kingdom celebrated their triumph, and Ema and Domby expressed their gratitude to King Charles before embarking on their journey.

As Domby and Ema ventured through a forest in search of clues for the remaining pieces of the bloodstone, Domby grew weary and sat down near a tree trunk. Curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to open his gift. Inside, he discovered a bundle of carrots. Overjoyed, Domby exclaimed, urging Ema to open her gift as well. He was convinced they would have a delightful meal. However, Ema's mind was preoccupied with thoughts of finding the remaining fragments of the stone. Reluctantly, she opened her gift and exclaimed, "Domby, we have found the first piece!" Domby rushed over and was captivated by the stone's beauty. A note accompanied it, which read, "Ema, this was given to me by an old man I rescued from danger. He referred to it as the stone of humanitarianism, and I believe you embody that title perfectly." Ema smiled, and Domby exclaimed, "Yes, we've found it!" Ema inquired, "What comes next?" Domby carefully took the stone out of the box, held Ema's hand, and both of them vanished. Their quest continued in search of the second piece of the bloodstone.

………………………..To Be Continued……………………………………………………...