The Lost Quest
Chapter 15: End or A Begining

Yannic and Zohar felt the warm light of the good souls falling upon the place get stronger and stronger. The awful feeling of the evil was gone. In the demonic chamber glimmered the holy bright light.

“Brother!” Yannic heard Aiden approaching him.

“Aiden!” He ran towards his little one and hugged him tight.

“The good souls saved me.” He said.

Two saints were standing behind Aiden. The golden holy light spinning above the head of Yannic started getting larger and taking human shapes. The magnificent human shapes turned into the holy saints.

The seven holy saints, they had long white beard and a white turban on their head, dressed in white silk rob which made them look like god fathers from the heaven.

“Thank you, lord Aerius! You freed us,” Said one of the saints.

All the holy souls bowed their heads down in front of Aerius, as the symbol of respect.

“Long live lord of Peninha!” Everyone said in one voice.

“Long live lord of Peninha!” They all repeated.

“Let’s get out of the tunnel!” said Zohar.

“This way, lords!” said one of them, as they led Yannic, Zohar and Aiden towards another part of the tunnel. After few minutes, they reached to the same grassy alley where they had fallen when they first entered Peninha. Yannic looked at the grass, the greyish grass on the alley had turned all green. The brightness scattered all over the land, he could see.

“I thought it would be a long tunnel.” Said Zohar and turned towards the tunnel.

“It was. The bearing place of the whole evil, the spot for the prayers to the supreme demon. But now, Ariman’s gone. So did his evil bearing land. ”

“Thank you lord! For freeing us and saving our land from the demons.”

Oldest of the holy saints turned towards Yannic and said.

“That’s what a lord’s supposed to do,” replied Yannic. “Now I’ll never let anything evil invade Peninha. I’ll rule and

protect this land forever.”

“No, my lord!” “Lord Aerius had entered you to destroy the demons. You did your job. You completed your quest. Now, go back to your world. You have to fulfil your responsibilities like other human beings.”

“But whom would I return back to? This is where I belong.”

“You are a human! Your world is where you belong. Live your life. From now on, there won’t be any heir to Peninha. No one is going to sit on that golden throne. No one is going to fight for the title. Holy saints will look after Peninha forever. ”

“Hold your hands!” Said one of them. All three men Zohar, Yannic and Aiden held their hands. The seven holy saints surrounded the men.

“Supreme power of light! They’ve completed the task. Now send them where they belong!” They saw a flash of the brightest light all around their head. It seemed like something was pulling them upwards, the beam of the holy light. The men fell like flying into air, like a free bird dragged upon the cool clouds.

Soon, they were out of the pool all drained in water.

“Here we come, back to the pool.” Said Zohar. He squeezed out water from his beard. Aiden sat beside Yannic near the pool. They felt gentle breeze drying their wet clothes in that sunny day.

“So what’s next?” Yannic turned towards Zohar.

“Aren’t you hungry?” asked Zohar.

“What?” Yannic asked. It was something totally unrelated.

“I am so hungry. Let’s have something first.”

He headed inside the forest. Yannic and Aiden followed him. The walk was easier than before. Through the gaps of aligned and straight trees, they could see the old hut of Zohar from a distance. In no time, they reached the hut.

“What about a bowl of mushroom soup?” asked Zohar and started picking up the pink and grey mushrooms over the straw of the roof and near the door.

“Tasty, it is.” Said Aiden as he sipped the soup.

Yannic and Zohar sat next to him on the same wooden block, sipping the soup.

“So, what’s next?” asked Yannic.

“Well! You’ll go to your world and live rest of your life there.”

“And what about you? Won’t you come with us?”

He pulled out the golden pocket watch hung around his neck, opened and looked at it.

“I am a wizard. My role in your world has ended far before. I’ve been living in this forest for ages. My role as your protector ends here. May the divine would give me some other roles in future.” Yannic and Aiden finished the bowl of soup and kept those beneath the stool. They got up and walked towards the stream where Yannic had woken up before.

“No matter, where ever you go. I’ll be looking over you.”

“I never got a chance to say it before. But thank you for protecting us, in this world and that, Grand pa!” Yannic and Aiden hugged him as the last goodbye.

“I’ll be always there for you, in your troubles and dilemma. Any evil will have to step over me to get to you. Just remember me with all your hearts.”

The wizard placed his old heavy hands over their heads and mumbled chants. Yannic got blinded. A calmness surrounded him. His senses got blurred and he could feel himself plunge into a deep serenity.

The next thing he could hear was,

“Beep!” “Beep!” The sounds of horns buzzing on the turn.

“Brother!” He heard someone calling him from the back seat. He was in his black Acura parked at the middle of a turning on a forest. At another side, there was a river flowing deep below. He turned around.

“Beth!” There was the young lad, dressed on a black tux on the back seat of the car.

“Did you fall asleep?” asked Beth.

“How did you get here? You’re all right?” asked Yannic.

“Yup! I got here from villa. Are you okay?”

Yannic could not figure anything out.

He looked at himself. He was all dressed up too. It seemed like they were ready to head for some special ceremony. “Where are ...”

“Look! They have arrived.” Beth interrupted Yannic. Yannic saw two handsome young men in the black tux approaching the car. A fat man was following them.

“We found the mechanic. The car workshop was pretty far from here,” said Aiden. He entered the car and sat on the driver’s seat.

From the window, he heard the conversation of young Sijal and the mechanic.

“Yaa! That one. I think a nail got stuck in there.”

“Okay! Let me check.”

“Aiden! Where had you been? What’s going on? Where’s Zohar? Are we heading somewhere?” asked Yannic.

“Brother! What are you talking about?”

“Who Zohar?” Aiden turned towards Beth. “Was he asleep? What is he talking about?”

“Yaa! He had fallen asleep for a while and started talking all strange. Must have been freaked out about whole marriage thing?” The lads began to laugh. Sijal was laughing from outside, hearing the conversation.

“Brother! You’re finally going to be together with the love of your life. Freaking out ain’t the best thing.” Aiden wrapped his arms around his brother. Yannic pushed him away and asked, “Aiden! Don’t you remember anything? You were kidnapped. And Beth we met at the forest. Don’t you guys remember anything?” Yannic was pissed off.

“Yes! The villa near the forest.” Replied Beth.

“Kidnapped! What happened brother? Did you see a dream or something? Don’t be so nervous.” Said Aiden.

“Okay! The tube’s been repaired.” Interrupted the mechanic. Aiden handed him few notes.

“Marriage! What marriage?”

“Your marriage.”

“My marriage? I am already married.”

“Brother that’s enough. Don’t speak anything now.”

Sijal entered the car. Aiden drove the car towards the city, over the twists and turning of the woods. Yannic looked out of the wind shield.

A curvy road with long way of woods and deep wide river at another side, lead to a huge meadow couple of hours later, that lied few kilometers before the city. From a distance, he could see a huge church on the meadow. Aiden stopped the car in front of the church.

“We’re here brother!” There were dressed up people gathered all around the church ready for what that seemed like a special ceremony.

Yannic got off the car, walked towards the main gate of the church. Lilies and orchids had decorated the alley. Everyone looked him with a huge grin on their face. “Congratulations Yannic!” an aged man came to Yannic and said as he tapped to his shoulder. Yannic smiled and Aiden pushed him towards the gate. He entered the church. There was huge statue of Jesus hanging on a cross, which was visible from the main gate. Some knowns and some unknowns, Yannic saw people gathering on the both sides of the aisle smiling and congratulating him. Aiden, Beth and Sijal all lead him towards the stage. The minister of the church was standing below the idol.

“Your grandfather would be so happy, to be here.” said Aunt Margaret, who was standing beside him. She sobbed and handed him the pocket watch. “Where did you get it?” asked Yannic, the old lady.

“You had left it on the cemetery, during the ceremony. I thought today would be the best day to return it back.” Said the lady.

“Aiden! Look...” Yannic showed the pocket watch to Aiden but he gave no reaction.

A beautiful hymn started to play in the hall. Everyone from the hall turned towards the main gate.

The bride entered the church. Tiara on her white long gown and net veil on the top looked like a floating angle.

“That’s Tiara!” said Yannic.

“See looks so beautiful, doesn’t she?” Aiden nudge him.

“Don’t you remember anything, Aiden? We went to Tilaurai?”

“I am going to Tilaurai brother. I had told you last night about it.”

“But you’ve already been ..”

“Brother! Sussh!”

Tiara got on the stage. Yannic looked at Tiara. She got shy. Yannic could not figure out anything.

What was that? Was everything he had been through a dream? The wedding night? Ariman? The magical land Peninha!

“Friends! Family! Today we have gathered here to tie this man and this woman in the bond of holy matrimony...” Yannic could hear traces of the prayers.

“Do you take Yannic as your lawfully wedded husband?” asked the minister.

“I do!” replied Tiara.

“Do you take Tiara as your lawfully wedded wife?” Yannic stared her in silence. “Yannic!” repeated the minister.

Aiden poked him from behind. “I do!” replied Yannic.

The hymn started playing sweeter. “You may now exchange the ring! The bond of your eternal love.” Said the minister. Aiden pulled out the rings. Gave it to Yannic, the same pair as he saw one on Tiara’s hand on the wedding night. Yannic looked at everyone in the church. Yannic was obligated. He could not do anything but perform the ceremony, one after another. Tiara placed the ring on his ring finger. “Now the groom!” said the minister. He looked Tiara as she bowed down with shyness. He took the ring and placed it on her finger. Everyone started cheering and congratulating out of happiness. He stared at Tiara, she looked prettier than any angel. Suddenly, he saw a blue flash of light glimmering through her eyes. “Wait! What was that?” He looked towards the people on church. Everyone seemed to have the sparks of happiness in their eyes. No one noticed the blue flash of demonic light. He looked towards Aiden, lads were nudging him in excitement. He again looked at Tiara. She was bowing down, smiling with her pretty syrupy lips.

What was happening? Was he dreaming? Or what’s happening now a hallucination? No one was there who could realize a trace of everything he was going through. He slipped his hand to his pocket and felt the pocket watch. He pulled it out “Zohar! I wish you were here,” he thought to himself. He was confused and terrified about what the next moment had to bring. He was unaware, was that the end or the beginning of his lost dark quest? He looked far from the door of the church, opposite to the stage. Far on meadow, stood a shaggy familiar figure on a long cloak and tall white cap with a long wand in his hand.

Yannic and Zohar felt the warm light of the good souls falling upon the place get stronger and stronger. The awful feeling of the evil was gone. In the demonic chamber glimmered the holy bright light.

“Brother!” Yannic heard Aiden approaching him.

“Aiden!” He ran towards his little one and hugged him tight.

“The good souls saved me.” He said.

Two saints were standing behind Aiden. The golden holy light spinning above the head of Yannic started getting larger and taking human shapes. The magnificent human shapes turned into the holy saints.

The seven holy saints, they had long white beard and a white turban on their head, dressed in white silk rob which made them look like god fathers from the heaven.

“Thank you, lord Aerius! You freed us,” Said one of the saints.

All the holy souls bowed their heads down in front of Aerius, as the symbol of respect.

“Long live lord of Peninha!” Everyone said in one voice.

“Long live lord of Peninha!” They all repeated.

“Let’s get out of the tunnel!” said Zohar.

“This way, lords!” said one of them, as they led Yannic, Zohar and Aiden towards another part of the tunnel. After few minutes, they reached to the same grassy alley where they had fallen when they first entered Peninha. Yannic looked at the grass, the greyish grass on the alley had turned all green. The brightness scattered all over the land, he could see.

“I thought it would be a long tunnel.” Said Zohar and turned towards the tunnel.

“It was. The bearing place of the whole evil, the spot for the prayers to the supreme demon. But now, Ariman’s gone. So did his evil bearing land. ”

“Thank you lord! For freeing us and saving our land from the demons.”

Oldest of the holy saints turned towards Yannic and said.

“That’s what a lord’s supposed to do,” replied Yannic. “Now I’ll never let anything evil invade Peninha. I’ll rule and

protect this land forever.”

“No, my lord!” “Lord Aerius had entered you to destroy the demons. You did your job. You completed your quest. Now, go back to your world. You have to fulfil your responsibilities like other human beings.”

“But whom would I return back to? This is where I belong.”

“You are a human! Your world is where you belong. Live your life. From now on, there won’t be any heir to Peninha. No one is going to sit on that golden throne. No one is going to fight for the title. Holy saints will look after Peninha forever. ”

“Hold your hands!” Said one of them. All three men Zohar, Yannic and Aiden held their hands. The seven holy saints surrounded the men.

“Supreme power of light! They’ve completed the task. Now send them where they belong!” They saw a flash of the brightest light all around their head. It seemed like something was pulling them upwards, the beam of the holy light. The men fell like flying into air, like a free bird dragged upon the cool clouds.

Soon, they were out of the pool all drained

in water.

“Here we come, back to the pool.” Said Zohar. He squeezed out water from his beard. Aiden sat beside Yannic near the pool. They felt gentle breeze drying their wet clothes in that sunny day.

“So what’s next?” Yannic turned towards Zohar.

“Aren’t you hungry?” asked Zohar.

“What?” Yannic asked. It was something totally unrelated.

“I am so hungry. Let’s have something first.”

He headed inside the forest. Yannic and Aiden followed him. The walk was easier than before. Through the gaps of aligned and straight trees, they could see the old hut of Zohar from a distance. In no time, they reached the hut.

“What about a bowl of mushroom soup?” asked Zohar and started picking up the pink and grey mushrooms over the straw of

the roof and near the door.

“Tasty, it is.” Said Aiden as he sipped the soup.

Yannic and Zohar sat next to him on the same wooden block, sipping the soup.

“So, what’s next?” asked Yannic.

“Well! You’ll go to your world and live rest of your life there.”

“And what about you? Won’t you come with us?”

He pulled out the golden pocket watch hung around his neck, opened and looked at it.

“I am a wizard. My role in your world has ended far before. I’ve been living in this forest for ages. My role as your protector ends here. May the divine would give me some other roles in future.” Yannic and Aiden finished the bowl of soup and kept those beneath the stool. They got up and walked towards the stream where Yannic had woken up before.

“No matter, where ever you go. I’ll be looking over you.”

“I never got a chance to say it before. But thank you for protecting us, in this world and that, Grand pa!” Yannic and Aiden hugged him as the last goodbye.

“I’ll be always there for you, in your troubles and dilemma. Any evil will have to step over me to get to you. Just remember me with all your hearts.”

The wizard placed his old heavy hands over their heads and mumbled chants. Yannic got blinded. A calmness surrounded him. His senses got blurred and he could feel himself plunge into a deep serenity.

The next thing he could hear was,

“Beep!” “Beep!” The sounds of horns buzzing on the turn.

“Brother!” He heard someone calling him from the back seat. He was in his black Acura parked at the middle of a turning on a forest. At another side, there was a river flowing deep below. He turned around.

“Beth!” There was the young lad, dressed on a black tux on the back seat of the car.

“Did you fall asleep?” asked Beth.

“How did you get here? You’re all right?” asked Yannic.

“Yup! I got here from villa. Are you okay?”

Yannic could not figure anything out.

He looked at himself. He was all dressed up too. It seemed like they were ready to head for some special ceremony. “Where are ...”

“Look! They have arrived.” Beth interrupted Yannic. Yannic saw two handsome young men in the black tux approaching the car. A fat man was following them.

“We found the mechanic. The car workshop was pretty far from here,” said Aiden. He entered the car and sat on the driver’s seat.

From the window, he heard the conversation of young Sijal and the mechanic.

“Yaa! That one. I think a nail got stuck in there.”

“Okay! Let me check.”

“Aiden! Where had you been? What’s going on? Where’s Zohar? Are we heading somewhere?” asked Yannic.

“Brother! What are you talking about?”

“Who Zohar?” Aiden turned towards Beth. “Was he asleep? What is he talking about?”

“Yaa! He had fallen asleep for a while and started talking all strange. Must have been freaked out about whole marriage thing?” The lads began to laugh. Sijal was laughing from outside, hearing the conversation.

“Brother! You’re finally going to be together with the love of your life. Freaking out ain’t the best thing.” Aiden wrapped his arms around his brother. Yannic pushed him away and asked, “Aiden! Don’t you remember anything? You were kidnapped. And Beth we met at the forest. Don’t you guys remember anything?” Yannic was pissed off.

“Yes! The villa near the forest.” Replied Beth.

“Kidnapped! What happened brother? Did you see a dream or something? Don’t be so nervous.” Said Aiden.

“Okay! The tube’s been repaired.” Interrupted the mechanic. Aiden handed him few notes.

“Marriage! What marriage?”

“Your marriage.”

“My marriage? I am already married.”

“Brother that’s enough. Don’t speak anything now.”

Sijal entered the car. Aiden drove the car towards the city, over the twists and turning of the woods. Yannic looked out of the wind shield.

A curvy road with long way of woods and deep wide river at another side, lead to a huge meadow couple of hours later, that lied few kilometers before the city. From a distance, he could see a huge church on the meadow. Aiden stopped the car in front of the church.

“We’re here brother!” There were dressed up people gathered all around the church ready for what that seemed like a special ceremony.

Yannic got off the car, walked towards the main gate of the church. Lilies and orchids had decorated the alley. Everyone looked him with a huge grin on their face. “Congratulations Yannic!” an aged man came to Yannic and said as he tapped to his shoulder. Yannic smiled and Aiden pushed him towards the gate. He entered the church. There was huge statue of Jesus hanging on a cross, which was visible from the main gate. Some knowns and some unknowns, Yannic saw people gathering on the both sides of the aisle smiling and congratulating him. Aiden, Beth and Sijal all lead him towards the stage. The minister of the church was standing below the idol.

“Your grandfather would be so happy, to be here.” said Aunt Margaret, who was standing beside him. She sobbed and handed him the pocket watch. “Where did you get it?” asked Yannic, the old lady.

“You had left it on the cemetery, during the ceremony. I thought today would be the best day to return it back.” Said the lady.

“Aiden! Look...” Yannic showed the pocket watch to Aiden but he gave no reaction.

A beautiful hymn started to play in the hall. Everyone from the hall turned towards the main gate.

The bride entered the church. Tiara on her white long gown and net veil on the top looked like a floating angle.

“That’s Tiara!” said Yannic.

“See looks so beautiful, doesn’t she?” Aiden nudge him.

“Don’t you remember anything, Aiden? We went to Tilaurai?”

“I am going to Tilaurai brother. I had told you last night about it.”

“But you’ve already been ..”

“Brother! Sussh!”

Tiara got on the stage. Yannic looked at Tiara. She got shy. Yannic could not figure out anything.

What was that? Was everything he had been through a dream? The wedding night? Ariman? The magical land Peninha!

“Friends! Family! Today we have gathered here to tie this man and this woman in the bond of holy matrimony...” Yannic could hear traces of the prayers.

“Do you take Yannic as your lawfully wedded husband?” asked the minister.

“I do!” replied Tiara.

“Do you take Tiara as your lawfully wedded wife?” Yannic stared her in silence. “Yannic!” repeated the minister.

Aiden poked him from behind. “I do!” replied Yannic.

The hymn started playing sweeter. “You may now exchange the ring! The bond of your eternal love.” Said the minister. Aiden pulled out the rings. Gave it to Yannic, the same pair as he saw one on Tiara’s hand on the wedding night. Yannic looked at everyone in the church. Yannic was obligated. He could not do anything but perform the ceremony, one after another. Tiara placed the ring on his ring finger. “Now the groom!” said the minister. He looked Tiara as she bowed down with shyness. He took the ring and placed it on her finger. Everyone started cheering and congratulating out of happiness. He stared at Tiara, she looked prettier than any angel. Suddenly, he saw a blue flash of light glimmering through her eyes. “Wait! What was that?” He looked towards the people on church. Everyone seemed to have the sparks of happiness in their eyes. No one noticed the blue flash of demonic light. He looked towards Aiden, lads were nudging him in excitement. He again looked at Tiara. She was bowing down, smiling with her pretty syrupy lips.

What was happening? Was he dreaming? Or what’s happening now a hallucination? No one was there who could realize a trace of everything he was going through. He slipped his hand to his pocket and felt the pocket watch. He pulled it out “Zohar! I wish you were here,” he thought to himself. He was confused and terrified about what the next moment had to bring. He was unaware, was that the end or the beginning of his lost dark quest? He looked far from the door of the church, opposite to the stage. Far on meadow, stood a shaggy familiar figure on a long cloak and tall white cap with a long wand in his hand.