Wen never thought that the Orchid Queen could be so heartless as to let the City of Sorrelia perish by taking its pearl. Wen had believed the Orchid Queen to be caring and loving over all individuals and had devoted her life to teaching her healers to cure people of their ailments. How could she have become so selfish, Wen thought.“I appreciate all that you have done to help people by teaching us the healing arts, Your Highness,” Wen began. “But I hope you would reconsider taking the pearl from the people who need it most. You have lived in isolation for many years and have prevented the intrusion of the outside world. If you will, I would return the pearl to Sorrelia with the promise that I would do all I can to tell people not to encroach upon your domain.”There was melodious laughter that echoed in the large chamber as the Orchid Queen expressed her amusement at Wen’s statement. “You would tell people not to encroach upon my dom

Eldion saw several steps that lead upwards to a more spacious chamber. Cautiously, he climbed up the steps as he looked around. He was overwhelmed by the explosion of color and light that seemed to descend upon him from the sloping walls that eventually joined at the apex of the pyramid. The gemstones sparkled like multicolored rain while the weakening light from the dying sun descended on the raised structure occupying the center of the chamber. Looking at the intricate carvings on the wood, emphasized by well placed gilding and jewel ornaments, Eldion could not help but be drawn at the central structure. He walked towards it in slow but assured steps.As Eldion came nearer, it became apparent to him that there was a woman in purple robes sitting still on an enormous chair underneath the canopy. Her face was hidden under a thin white veil and Eldion could not tell how she looked. However, the woman held her head high and her back straight as she waited for Eldion to come nea

Eldion picked up a piece of charred wood and threw it to the passageway. As soon as the charred wood touched the thorny plants on the floor, it was smothered by the slithering stems while several thorns shot at it like darts. Eldion remembered Rolho and knew that the plants fit the description of the terandu that can shoot poison thorns on their victims.Eldion wiped the sweat off his brows. He was starting to feel the exhaustion after creating the streams of fire that destroyed the plants meant to kills him. He breathed deeply and tried to focus as he created an enormous ball of fire between his palms. Then, he rolled the fire ball inside the passageway and it burned the snakelike terandu which slithered away at the fire. It shot some of its poison thorns at the rolling ball of flames.As Eldion watched his ball of flames incinerate the terandu on the floor, he knew that he needed to create more fire to destroy the remaining plants that slithered over the walls and ce

“You know who I am,” said Eldion to the Orchid Queen.The queen stepped backwards and crouched in fear. “Forgive me,” she said as she raised her arm as if to protect herself from Eldion.“Will you let me and my friends go?” asked Eldion, taking a step forward.The queen shivered before kneeling before Eldion. “Yes. It was a mistake that I held you against your will.”Eldion nodded before speaking. “Will you give us back everything that you took from us and help us to go to our destination?”Still crouching in fear and unable to look at Eldion in the eye, the queen answered. “Yes. I will do everything that you ask.”“Now, tell me. Who am I and how do I get back to where I come from?” asked Eldion.The queen was silent as she slowly lowered her hand to look at Eldion’s face.“You are the builder of worlds, the master of creation. You a

The bamboo raft floated over the river, carried by the current towards the Kanima Mountains. The travelers were given by the healers ample food and water for their journey downstream along with some advice on where they should disembark. Eldion did not know how to feel as they left the realm of the Orchid Queen. They did get enough rest while they were there and the healers were very helpful, however, their experience at the temple pyramid and when the Orchid Queen commanded the plants to attack him remained with Eldion.“So, the Orchid Queen knew all along that you have the pearl,” said Casser as he held the long bamboo pole that helped him steer the raft over the flowing river. “That’s what Rolho said,” replied Mira. “Retta also explained that the very earth of Rokuhari is enchanted and magnified the Orchid Queen’s power. Within her realm, the Orchid Queen could sense the pearl and then had her pet lizard steal it from