Forgotten Conqueror

“Lize D. Fotbusen… where have I heard that name before?” Kaidus asked himself.

Sitting down in one of the reading chairs, he flipped the cover.

Underneath was another title page: Exploration Diary - L.D.F.

Kaidus quickly skimmed through the pages, glancing at various words and passages. The words formed what looks to be a continuous string of recorded events. Other than the cover, the small book looked to be a journal of sort.

‘Why would someone need to conceal this?’ He wondered.

Intrigued, Kaidus turned back to the beginning and started reading.

‘…took two days to scale the mountain. From the information we gathered, it flew in this direction before vanishing…

We found a small magical distortion at the mountain top. It seems to be getting weaker as night approaches…’

His eyes lit up at the contents of the book.

The author was chasing an abnormally large drakall. He/she was staying in a remote village in southern Malpaars when they saw it flying overhead. Along with a friend, they investigated it then gave chase.

The author even noted what the villagers were calling it. ‘Shakara Krauuga’

The name may have changed, but there was no doubt that the person who wrote this journal was witness to something he’s been searching for: a Karuga.

‘Xerit and I both combined our magic, ripping apart the distortion and revealing an entrance into the mountain… The exit vanished behind us. Try as we might, we could not pry it open again. It looks like the only way to proceed is forward…

We took turns illuminating the darkness. The tunnel ran for days, exhausting us of what meager rations we both packed. The smell of rot and death permeates through the tunnel as we ventured forth…

The tunnel-’

Larant walked into the room with a small tray of leftovers from lunch along with a jug and two cups.

“We just had lunch.” Kaidus stated, seeing the older boy placing it on the table between the chairs.

“It looked like you’ll be here for a while.” Larant answered with a grin.

“Was it that obvious?”

“Your eyes were on fire when I opened the door,” Larant replied. “There’s no need to rush. We have until evening before we set off.” The older boy went towards the walls to look for a book of his own.

Sitting back down to the small journal in front of him, Kaidus continued reading.

‘The tunnel ended, and we came upon a massive opening inside the mountain. Lighting up the opening, a magnificent city stood dazzling beneath us…

We spent the whole day scouring about looking for food and any signs of life, but the whole city is empty…

Long slender creatures about the size of a grown man’s arm. They attacked us on our first night in the ruins, but scattered into the darkness as soon as we invoked light magic. Not as empty as we thought. Xerit and I took turns resting…

Xerit killed one of the creatures today. Too hungry to care, we roasted it and ate it. The thing tasted quite delicious even though it was all lean meat. Maybe we can stay here a little longer and look around before trying to find a way out…

The exit is still sealed. No matter what we do, it doesn’t budge. Xerit has brought up that it even feels as if the entrance is absorbing our magic. I don’t know if it’s just the mountain or something is going on here, but it looks like we will have to make a trek back to the ruins for more food…

Twenty-six days in here, and we’re solely subsiding on these creatures. There is no other source of food and it doesn’t look like there is any other exit. Earth magic also doesn’t work, and the distortion that opened for us to get in here is nowhere to be seen…

Xerit is going mad. Says he hears a voice. I don’t blame him. We’ve been here for at least forty days anyone would…

Xerit is dead. I don’t know what happened to him, but he suddenly tried to kill me. I did the only thing I could…

He wasn’t lying. I am hearing the voice now… a grinding voice.’

The journal abruptly stopped.

The majority of what was recorded involves the exploration of the ruins and the author’s thoughts.

What interested him the most, was the beginning of the book and the ending. The author’s investigation, the Karuga’s sudden disappearance which led them to the otherworldly discovery, and the voice at the end.

Even the location in the journal coincides with what little information he’s gathered about the sightings in Malpaars. A grin crept onto his face, seeing the hard recorded truth in his hands.

“Well, what do you think of my library?” A voice asked from the doorway. Lord Varath and Troyle walked into the library.

“You can tell from how focused he is on that book in front of him that he is enthralled.” Troyle grinned.

“This is amazing. You have quite the broad collection in here, my lord.” Kaidus replied, not refuting Troyle's words.

“Would you like it as Sylvia’s dowry?” a mischievous smile erupted on the lord’s face.

“I believe we have already straightened that out a long time ago?” He replied, undaunted by lord Varath’s words.

The lord chuckled. “Forgive me, I couldn’t help myself. Let me know if you would like to take some with you home to read.”

“I gladly welcome that offer.” He grinned back at the lord.

“What do you have there?” Troyle questioned, walking towards him.

“Someone’s journal of exploration within the mountains of Southern Malpaars.” He handed the small book to Troyle.

“Malpaar’s Forgotten Subterranean City. Quite the title. Is it interesting?” Troyle handed it back after briefly looking through it.

“Dad. Have you heard of the author’s name?” He asked, showing the name to Troyle.

“Lize D. Fotbusen… Fotbusen… I have no idea.”

“You mean Malizur Lize Daran Fotbusen?” Lord Varath queried from a few paces away.

“!!” Life and Death of Malizur Lize Daran Fotbusen. He quickly remembered the book he read more than a year ago on his first visit to the Ravon Manor. No wonder the name sounded so familiar.

The reasons why and how the book was sealed became slightly more discernable.

‘Malizur Lize must have sealed it to make sure the events in those pages stayed hidden.’ He thought to himself.

Judging from the journal, the events must have happened before she became a renowned mage.

How she escaped from this place in the journal, what happened during that period of her life, or why she didn’t just burn the book instead of sealing its contents, Kaidus did not know. Only thing he knew is that Lize D. Fotbusen was a real person at one point in history, and he is holding something that belonged to her.

‘Looks like the first destination will be-’

“Why do you ask?” Troyle brought him out of his thoughts.

“Ah, nothing. The name sounded familiar but I just couldn’t remember where I heard it from.”

“Did you remember?”

“Yea. It was a name before from a book I read last year. It detailed parts of her life and how she became who she is.” He replied and sat back down.

“Was that book Life and Death of Malizur Lize Daran Fotbusen?” Lord Varath questioned.

“That’s the one.”

“I have a copy here somewhere if you want to take a look at it.”

“No, it’s fine.” Kaidus looked at the lord. “Have you read it yourself Lord Varath?” he enquired.

“I have. I found the adventurous lifestyle she led a little perilous for my taste, but it was a different time and era. Perhaps that was why she accomplished such feats as she did.” Lord Varath replied, taking a seat. “Have you read Artroloxsi Velantrius by Hinnegin R. Rucin?”

“I can’t say I have.” Kaidus replied, unable to recall the title.

“I don’t have a copy, but you should read it if you ever get the chance. It’s rare, but the book is a composite detailing the many deeds of various mages throughout the centuries. Some of her accomplishments not recorded in the book Life and Death of Malizur Lize are in there…”

To his surprise, not only did the lord have an extensive collection of books, the lord seem to have read a majority of them. The two spent the afternoon discussing about books.

As evening came, both Larant and Kaidus departed from their families and left for Zorin academy.

“Are you sure he’s your son?” Lord Varath joked as they were seeing the two boys off.

“Of course he is.” Troyle replied with a proud grin.