Prologue

     The Night was already in its deepest when Randell finally found the mansion of the keepers deep inside the forest. He makes his way through the forest as only the light from the full moon and stars guide him without any visual road or pathway to be seen. A few more feet ahead, he can view the forest ending into a clearing. Distant dim lights glow from windows on the Mansion up ahead. Quietly he lurks carefully in the shadows as he moves slowly closer and closer to the mansion.

     The closer he gets, the more excited he feels from his veins. He cannot contain it anymore, he knows that the book is located inside waiting for him, calling for him. what powers lie within its pages he wonders, What gifts it can bestow on him? With a smirk he hides his excitement and moves on, he continued walking towards the edge of the forest, his foot moving very lightly and carefully without even making a slight sound, like a feather gliding in the wind leaving no discernible tracks. Finally, he reached the edge of the forest where the trees end and meet the grounds of the mansion. He stopped hunched and hiding, behind a thick shrubbery of brown plants, not making any noises and just standing still as he blends in the shadows of the plants, hidden and cannot be seen by any. at least someone with an untrained eye.

     There before him, the hidden Mansion of the Keepers, he finally found it. Its Walls are strong and crawling with ivy, closed antique windows shut tight, and glows dimly with lights from candles inside as their flame flickers. No gates surround the mansion, no walls on the edge of its loan, no statues or designs no even rocks and pebbles, nothing but the barren clear well-kempt loan of short grass. he marveled at the sight before him and imagining the glory and victory that he will have today as he arrived on the west side of the building just at the edge where the forest ends.

     He did not make any sudden moves, sat perfectly still as he surveys the surroundings for any guard watch, cameras, or outpost that can spot him before he can approach closer and enter the mansion, he will not rush it and be spotted. He looked left to right, he can see no one and heard nothing but silence. Silence unnatural silence, hmmm, he ponders. He notices, no sound of birds, the wind rustling, or even insect noise in his surroundings. Randell Smirks, this is nothing new to him, he knows that there are protections and traps laid in front of him in the mansion’s loans. To someone untrained and inexperienced, surely, they will blunder and trigger the defenses and traps made by the keepers. Again, Randell is not one of them.

     “Very well, it now starts here.” He whispered, staring stoically direct at the mansion as if challenging it. “Soon it will be mine, no one will be able to stop me. My vengeance starts here.”

     Randell went to work, raising his hands in front of him forming figures with his hands twisting his fingers, and making some gestures in the air as if there is an invisible parchment in front of him, swiping the air forming a letter or signal of some kind. After he finished, he whispered a word and raises his hand's palms facing the ground, straight in front of him. Instantaneously sigils and symbols slowly magically materialize on the ground for him now very visible for him to see. “Surprise, Gus. Your sigil is but child play to me, you disappoint me on your defenses.” He said. “Oh well, at least they tried to protect themselves, despite being diminutive. I will be even more surprised if they did not make any magical defenses, at all. Oh, Gus you old coot. What’s the thrill in that.”

     With a wide smile, this time he reached something in his pockets and brought out a pouch unfurled the knot and reached inside. He pulled out his closed hands in front of him unveiling the contents that he has procured inside, opens them showing a handful of what seems to be brown dust. He lifted his open hands closer to his lips, whispered words that are incomprehensible for normal men, then blew the dust away from his open palms. Dust flew from and scattered in the air in front of him gliding down, spreading, and disappeared in the grounds where the symbols show.

     At first, nothing seems to happen, a couple of seconds past he waited, then similarly as how the dust that he had blown disappeared scattered among the grass, now slowly the sigils and symbols on the ground slowly dissipate as though being erased by an invisible hand, slowly the symbols are disappearing, one by one until nothing is left in front of Him that he can see. ‘Success! That is nothing.’ he thought to himself as the night is still young and his tasks just beginning, his true goal still lies inside the mansion.

     Gathering himself he stood up and step out of hiding and into the open, out of the forest that has hidden him, clear for anyone to see. The sky moves slowly from its perch, unveiling the light of the moon as it shines on his cloaked form. He walked forward closer into the mansion, very confident that he can take on whatever the keepers can throw at him, he will not settle with failure on this night, no! He has staked everything on this night, he has trained for months, learning, gathering information, gaining power, and acquiring allies as he grows stronger and stronger. Finally, this day has arrived, oh, they will suffer, he does not feel sorry for all those inside the mansion that will hinder and try to stop him, he will find it and he will take it because this is his time, all the preparation he has made. He will take the book, and no one can stand in his way. Slowly approaching the mansion ready on what the next challenge the Keepers can post against him. The night is still young.

------------------------------

     Jonathan woke up startled, someone’s banging on his door very loudly “Wake up Jon! Wake up!” it was Dan, one of the freshmen’s, outside his room banging loudly on his door very loudly. At the same time, he can hear loud noises far away, probably in the west wing side of the mansion.

     “Hold your horses, Dan, I’m coming.” He shouted as he sat, reached beside his bed and put on his glasses, looks at his watch on top of the table just beside his lamp It’s 12:43 am. What seems to be the matter at this time of night. He grabbed his watch and slide down his bed, just wearing his jammies not wearing any shirt, reaching for the door. “Wake up Jon! We are under attack!”

     “What?! What do you mean by under attack?” he was meet by Dan, his face full of sweat gasping for air. He can see a bit of dark purple bruise on his right cheeks as though someone has just punched him. A strong sound of explosion shakes the ground, they steady themselves on their feet, Debris falling from the ceiling. “What in the blazes is happening, Dan? What happened to you?!” he said angrily.

     “We need to go now Jon, they sent me to get you. Shar and Gus are with the others on the 2nd floor of the west wing, they are trying to hold him off as long as they can, he is here Jon he found us.” Grabs his arm pulls him out of the room and outside moving already on the hallway at a sprint. “We need to get out of here, we need to get the book out.”

     “Wait! Gather yourself, Dan.” Pulling his arm off of him, still sprinting keeping up the pace beside Dan. “Who is attacking us?”

     “Randell is here, somehow he has gotten so much stronger than before. They cannot hold him much longer.”

     “What? How can he…. How did he…?” Jon did not continue his words and moves running past Dan into the hallway, this night cannot get much worse than this, he said to himself. “C’mon, let’s go. We need to reach the Book.”

     They both Ran aware of what’s at stake. Far behind them Booming sounds and clashing metals can be heard repeatedly in the direction of the west wing. They Ran away from the sounds of battle, towards the center wing of the mansion. Echoes and the sound of battle can be heard far behind them as they ran past corridors and hallways And Down flights of stairs. Finally, they reached the center wing of the mansion.

     Jonathan has known every hallway and secret passage of the mansion, when he was just a teenager he can be seen around playing and fooling around with Sharnee, causing mischiefs, playing with spells or artifact’s and some of the time just hiding from seniors who they played a prank to. This night is different, it’s more serious and lives are at stake. He leads Dan to shortcuts across hallways and stairs, running until they reached the stairs entrance down to the catacombs. Jon does not fancy going down there every time, he is just not comfortable with dark dank places, on normal days he would avoid the catacombs entirely.

     “Where are we going, Jon? Where is it? You know we freshmen are not permitted to go down the catacombs. I thought it’s hidden in the north wing.”

     “No, it’s not, we just lead you to think that. don’t worry, today is an exception. There is a reason why you freshmen are not permitted Down there,” pointing at the entrance of the catacombs. “I don’t fancy the place either lad, but this is no time to get scared.” He assured Dan and walked on in front of Him down the Steel black ornate staircase to the Catacombs.

      Down a spiral staircase they decent to reach the catacombs of the mansion. Another loud explosion booms above them and shakes the ground. They stopped on their feet to balance themselves, the ground shakes, debris from the stone ceiling falls. Then silence. Is it over? Jon wondered. He would not just stand around to find out. He knows what he must do, he knows his duty as a Keeper.

    “That was loud,” said Jon, looking at Dan.

    “Did you think they finally won and stopped him?” Dan slowed his pace beside him.

    “How can he become this powerful,” Dan said stopped walking, his face showing shock and disbelief.

    “I Saw him, Jon,” Dan said Shakely his voice trembles. “I and the others are just relaxing at the freshmen living room on the west wing when it happened, the wall suddenly exploded and he came through. He got mark and Steve first. they immediately charged at him when he appears, the very brave. He just swiped at them with a single blow. mismatched we retreated to the second floor where Shar found us. She fought him, Jon, it was incredible. She went toe to toe against him. Then Shar got hit, I have not seen Shar that backed up and having a hard time on any fight.” He wipes the sweat from his brows, his face looks as though he has seen a monster, all hope escaping him. “I have heard he was Good, but he is now something else. Then Gus arrived. He grabbed me back and ordered me to find you and get the Book.”

    This time Jon was the one that grabbed him on his shoulder shaking him back to his senses.

    “There is no time, lad, get a grip on yourself, you need to be strong now, c’mon it’s just a few steps ahead.” He pulled Dan behind him, hurried him to the next hallway, as they make their way along with the catacombs. Reaching a crossroad, he mentally tried to remember which is the correct path as he tries to see along the many corridors of the catacombs.

     ‘Which one?’ He asked himself which one is the right path? It’s dark and damp, only the torches that hang on the walls lights their way. Finally, he remembered, ushered Dan on one corridor “This way!”

    “I don’t believe that she and Gus will fall to him, however, we must prioritize the safety of the book first, that is our duty. Then we can get back and worry about the others.” Jonathans talks to Dan trying to assure the lad and maybe somehow give him courage. Jon knows that he needs to do their duty. He can worry about their other comrades later. Why is this happening now, especially when he is not here? Jon thinks to himself.

     At last, they've reached the end of a corridor. Before they Stood a huge steel double door about 10feet in height and in width. Jon pulled out from his shirt a necklace which he and the other members of the higher tier kept with their person all the time even when sleeping. The necklace was triangular with a symbol of a half-open eye in the middle and some strange symbols around it. He raised the pendant in front of him murmured a few words chanting. On the center of the double doors is a circular symbol same as the pendant, after Jon finished chanting, immediately it moves spinning slowly and shrinking back inside the door. Sounds of metal machinery can be heard, gears turning and metals moving. Then the door finally moves slowly open for them.

     “Good you opened it for me, Jon.” A voice from behind suddenly spoke.

     Jon Turns around surprised, its Randell walking slowly towards them.

     “let’s go, lad!” He shouted at Dan. The boy looks stunned ignored him and kept staring directly at Randell.

     “We cannot outrun him, you are the only one that knows how to reach the book, Jon, I know I’m no match for him, But I think I can give you at least a few minute's heads starts. You better make it count.” Dan said without even looking at him.

    “No lad we can outrun him, you need to come with me.”

    “I’m sorry, Jon. Thanks for all the things you taught me. This is as far as I go, I guess we’ll see if I did learn something from you that could be worth stopping Him. Now GO!!”

    Jon hesitated at first, however, he must do his duty, he clenched his fist, turned, and ran inside the double doors.

    “I’m proud of you lad. I promise you I will get the book out.” He said as he ran not daring to look back and see the fate of his favorite freshmen, all those times he spends tutoring the lad, sing all of his potentials. He heard Dan’s voice shouting incantations getting ready to fight Randell to hold him off, for Jon to escape.

    He cannot fail now, he must get the book, he knows the protocol, now only he is the only one left to that hinders Randell from getting the book. He is the last chance.

    Inside, another long hallway ends in a dome-shaped room at least 30 feet wide in diameter. On the center stood a pedestal, on it lies a closed Book. Without wasting any time, He hurriedly approached the pedestal and picked up the book.

    “You cannot escape me Jon looks like the kid did not pose much of a challenge for you to escape, just pure bravery, such a waste.” A cold voice echoed from behind. Looking back at the entrance he saw Randell standing there without even a scratch.

    “At least he has the courage to do the right thing. To do his duties until the very end.” He said, cradling the book on one arm.

    “I'll make you an offer Jon. You can just join me and hand me the book then I will let you live. What do you say?”

    “You already know the answer to that Randell.” He backed up from the pedestal, his free hand reaching beside the pedestal trying to find something, a button, Distracting Randell not letting him see. Trying to buy some time. “How did you find us, Randell? You have not been to this mansion before, no one from your channel knows this mansion. That’s a rule among all the channels.”

    “I know that, well I have my own means. You know. Gathering information here, This and that. It does not matter now, does it? where can you run to, if you even manage to? I mean I know everything about you Jonathan, your clan, your family, I know all about them.”

    “Don’t you dare touch my family!” He shouted angrily. As he keeps on fumbling his fingers beside the pedestal searching for the button.

    “Well just hand me the book and we can just go our separate ways then.” Randell’s voice rang cold, calm, and confident.

    “You know very well I cannot do that,” Jon replied

    “Ok, I will give you……...”

    Baam! A big flash of light flashed on the back of Randell. Making him fall forward. “Wha… Who?” Randell both hands touching the floor steadying himself.

    Turning around Randell see Shar holding her Grandstaff in front of her. Bruised on her lips, blood dripping down from somewhere on her forehead.

    “Run Jon! Run! This is your chance. I can take him on for a bit.” She shouts at him.

    Jon found his chance, quickly turned around, facing the pedestal searching for the button beside it.

    Randell Stands up, shocked, looking at Shar and then back to Jon. Confused about which one to take on.

    Jon Found it, the button! Pressed it!

    “Nooooo!!” Jon heard Randell scream as the pedestal Jon is standing on, suddenly sinks within making him fall down, shuts closed above him while he falls on a chute, hugging the book on his chest.