The Scroll

Máni sits quietly on top of his sled, it bounces up and down traversing over the frozen roots of the forest floor. Two knights keep watch behind them, and Omar sits beside Máni tightly holding the map. 

Máni peeks over, looking at the map.” I’ve been to that area a few times. Never seen a stronghold there before.”

“I would not worry. It is there.”

“So- What’s in it?”

“Is that information you need?”

“It will make my job easier.”

“One of Scientia’s Scrolls.”

“The Knowledge God?” Poe stops in his tracks.

“Why have we stopped?”

“I don’t want to mess with The Knowledge God. You know they’ll send the Space Champion or worse if you steal from them.”

“I understand your concerns, but this is something my King wants. I well deal with the consequences.”

 Máni tightens his grips on the reins and he motions to Poe to keep moving. “If it does have information on Stellar Nova, what are you going to do with it?”

“Now that is information you don’t need.”

The Sled eventually stops, at the base of a massive icy Cliff. Máni, Omar, and the two knights get off of Máni’s sled and start to climb the cliffside. Máni and the knights with gear while Omar uses his claws. Once at the top they are greeted by a wall of Ice. 

Omar reaches into his pouch and hands Máni a piece of paper and a small purple crystal. “Draw that rune on the wall.”

Máni examines the crystal in his hand, he’s never seen a spell component like this.

“Go on.”

“Yes, right.” Máni uses the crystal to draw the rune into the ice wall. It glows causing a shimmer in the ice revealing pillars of stone that lead to an entrance. He’s taken aback. Clearly this crystal can be of use to him. While the others aren’t looking, he pockets the crystal. Then pulls out his star flowers, crushing them in his hand and using them to open the door.

“You two stay out here. Alert me if she shows up.”

As Máni and Omar enter, Máni can tell this is greater than any Stronghold he’s been in before. The inside is built like a temple with brown polished stone walls that have crystals inlaid to light the way. They walk down the long entrance way past statues of angels. Memorials to the ones who died for the Scroll. 

As they enter an empty room in the center, there is a faint dripping coming from above. Peeling off of the ceiling is a creature like a purple octopus with one massive sideways eye.

Máni takes a step back“Watch out guardians are-”

Omar rushes forward, his mark glows, light runs down his claws. Omar doges, weaves and flips over the Octopuses tentacle attacks, and with a single slash he carves through the guardian. 

Máni kicks a chunk of the guardian. “Guess they’re only dangerous to non champions.”

The two of them make it to a large room, the ceiling like a dome over them. There are depictions of stars and constellations all over the roof. In the center of the room floating above a pillar is a purple scroll. Máni starts wrapping leather around it. The leather glows orange as he takes it off the stand.

Máni and Omar exit the stronghold. One of the knights is already on the ground, the other gets hit across the face by Calian’s spear. The wind blows back the hood of his fur cloak, revealing his flowing white hair and his scar-covered face. “I can’t let you take that.”

Omar hesitates to attack. “Space champion?”

Máni Scoffs “Definitely not.” 

Omar flicks out his claws, as energy wraps around them. He rushes forward and slashes at Calian, causing the snow in the area to go flying. 

Máni uses this opportunity to pass both of them and start sliding down the side of the cliff. 

Omar and Calian exchange a few blows, before Calian sees Máni is gone. He smacks Omar with his spear, then slides past him towards Máni. “Hand the scroll over.”

Omar sends a slash of energy at the two, causing the cliff to break apart. Snow engulfs Máni and Calian. Máni pulls himself out of the snow, laughing to himself. The scroll is still in hand. 

Calian jumps Máni, pinning him down. “You need to give me that Scroll!” 

Another wave of sun energy hits Calian, forcing him off. Omar extends his hand out to Máni. “Are you alright?”

Máni takes his hand, getting up on his feet. “Thank you.”

Omar places his hand on Máni's shoulder. “You weren’t thinking of running off with that, were you.” His claws dig into Máni’s coat.

Calian rushes forward hitting Omar across the face with his spear. Omar tries attacking back, but Calian dodges it and keeps attacking. Máni starts running away.

In an explosion of energy, Omar launches Calian past Máni.  Omar looks at the blood dripping from his gauntlets.  “Your scars and skills tell me you’re a warrior, but your light is weak. It would be a shame if I was the one to cut you down.”

Calian takes a deep breath in, trying to regain his strength. He pushes through the pain and gets up. Omar circles Calian, clawing at him. All Calian can do is take the hits, but as Omar goes in for another big one, he positions his spear between Omar's arms and gets a hit against Omar, knocking him off balance.

The two fighters stumble away from each other, Calian’s still wheezing, but spins his spear to point it at Omar. Calian becomes more defensive with the next attacks, using the spear to block Omar’s claws. When he has the chance he drops to the ground and sprays snow up at Omar. The second Omar can’t see, the blunt end of Calian’s spear goes right to his face. Calian now on the offensive, he doesn't give Omar a second to react. His arms are tired and shaking but he knows he can’t stop hitting him till he goes down. 

Omar doesn’t go down, he grabs the spear in the middle of one of Calian’s increasingly weaker hits. Calian isn’t even able to make it budge.

“Enough!” Omar’s eyes turn a bright yellow, he places his hand against Calian’s chest. An explosion of sun energy hits Calian directly. He flies across the battlefield until he smacks into Máni, knocking the scroll out of Máni’s hand. Calian uses his arms to try and stand, but he just falls back onto Máni. The scroll rolls and unwraps itself. Máni pushes Calian off of him and reaches for the unprotected scroll

“No!” Omar lunges, he throws Calian’s spear aiming for Máni's head. 

Máni fingers reach the scroll. He grabs it, pulling it up to his face. The spear hits the scroll, piercing right through it’s paper but stopping right before touching Máni. Purple light starts flashing out of the tear, consuming everything. The scroll started to break, turning into sparks of light, but instead of floating away they burned themselves into Máni’s clothes and into his skin. 

The pupils of Máni's eyes expand until all he sees is Darkness. That darkness becomes littered with stars, the brightest one falls, the sky becomes blood red. The star lands in the ocean. Ice forms around it, creating an island of frozen trees and little lights. On this island is a gateway carved from ice, through the gateway there is a river of stars leading to a dress, then up to a figure made from a constellation.