CTMAS - Chapter 1: Visitors

Computer, Tell Me a Story
Chapter 1: Visitors

Earth, present day.
"Rayan, look!" Came the little girl's shout. The echoes in the cavern making her tiny voice appear louder and scarier from Rayan's standpoint, very uncharacteristic of its twelve-year old source.
The young man came rushing with the basket of shells he collected.  He’s about a full year older, fair skinned and curious blue eyes.  "What is it now, Aurora?" He asked, sounding really annoyed. In truth though, there isn't anything he wouldn't trade for this whole day of playing and relaxation with his best friend. School has just ended and they are free to do whatever they want.
"I see light." She said, pointing towards one of the inner caverns.
"hmm... I wonder if someone got here before us." Rayan frowned, inching closer.
"It moved." She half-shrieked as the shadows shifted slowly to the left.
Rayan was already halfway into the cavern entrance, but he looked back and beckoned to Aurora. His calm and reassuring face made her feel safe somehow, so she slipped down from the big rock she was squatting on and followed.
"The cave is going downwards, and there's water coming up. I wonder if it's already high tide outside." Rayan murmured softly. Just loud enough for his voice to reach Aurora who was trailing behind. "Be careful and don't slip."
"I...I'm a little scared..." Aurora whispered, clasping Rayan's shirt.
Both of them kept going deeper and deeper into the cave until they saw what looked like a halo of green light.  A cloaked figure stood in front of it, carrying a large wooden staff.
"Don't worry, I'm sure it’s just one of the villagers." Rayan replied, squinting towards the direction of the light.
"I haven't seen a staff that glowed green before." Aurora observed. The water now feels muddy, clinging, making their movement sluggish. Running out is definitely out of the question.
"Hello?" Rayan shouted, announcing their presence. He was greeted back by his own voice, warped in a queer echo. "Who's there?"
"Ouch!" Aurora squirmed back. "Something stung my leg!" She said, noticing the strange ripples in the water just now. Rayan jumped back, his eyes darting around trying to find an island of safety.
The man started walking towards them murmuring a few words.  “Run back Aurora!” Rayan shouted as he felt the mud solidify, locking his feet.
Aurora bolted towards the cave entrance, trying to get back to the safety of the rocks.  It was a bit too late as the hooded figure ran past Rayan and caught her by the arm.  “Please don’t run!” The man said, still panting.  “I’ve been looking for you.”
“Let me go!!” Aurora screamed.  “Rayan, help!!!”
Rayan raged.  Try as he wanted, his legs wouldn’t get loose.  It’s as if he was being held in place by very hard cement.  “Leave her alone!”  He shouted in frustration, trying to reach for something to grab.  His hands scored a piece of cloth.  It was the trailing edge of the man’s cloak.  “Aaaaaah!!!” He shouted, giving it a panic-boosted pull, dragging the man back and into the water.
“Wai-blurbb!” The man said in half surprise as his head went under the muddy water.  “Kahh - Please, wait!...” He said, cloak undone, revealing an old, graying hair and beard, about fifty or so years of age.  “Let me explain…” he choked on his words as he tried to clear the water from his throat.
Rayan’s clenched fist shot forward, into the man’s left cheek.  “Don’t hurt her!” He shouted.
The old man fell back into the water, covering his face.  “Stop!  Stop!  Children, please!  I don’t mean any harm!”
The mud loosened as the old man tried to focus on getting back up.  Rayan was not about to let his chance slip.  Leaping forward, he crashed into the man’s midsection, elbow first, sending them both tumbling into the halo of green light.
“Rayan?” Aurora cried out.  Both of them vanished.  She was alone in the cave with an eerie looking circle of green light.
Finally finding some courage, Aurora walked forward slowly, trying to inspect where the seemingly magical door led.  “Rayan?  Are you there?”  There was no response.
Aurora held out her hand, and the light seemed to react to it.  Small tendrils of energy pulled away from the halo, reaching towards her hand.  A little closer and she felt herself totally engulfed in light, closing her eyes to avoid the glare.
The sensation of water disappeared from her legs.  Aurora felt warm.  Like sunlight touching her skin.  As she slowly opened her eyes, she smelled grass.  There was no cave.  It’s as if she travelled to a completely different world.
“Rayaaaan!” She shouted as she spun around.
“Over here.” Came a tired voice.  It was the old man.  Rayan was standing beside him, but half his body was encased in tightly packed dirt.
“What did you do to him?!!” Aurora shouted, running towards them and stopping halfway.
“I’m sorry, he is quite okay, I promise.” The old man replied.  “He wouldn’t stop trying to hit me so I… had to restrain him.  I’ll let him go if both of you promise to let me explain.”
Aurora nodded.  Rayan growled at the old man but kept still.  It wasn’t like he had a choice.  At least Aurora was still okay.
“Release.” The old man commanded.  The dirt loosened and Rayan’s body came free.  He quickly ran towards Aurora and put her behind him, eyes still menacingly affixed at the old man, teeth clenched.
“I am Jezriel, royal guard of Eldris, house of Regulus.” The old man introduced himself with a light bow.  “Please don’t be alarmed.  I came in search of the esper and tracked her down in those caves.”
“We were there for a few hours already.  I saw no one enter the cave.” Rayan growled.  “You have been waiting for anyone to come and then you’ll eat them!”
The old man stopped half a chuckle.  “Young man, I am sorry to have alarmed you.  I’m telling the truth.  I travelled using a portal.”
“A… portal?” Aurora repeated, as if learning the word just now.
“Yes, you see, Eldris is not exactly… in your world.  I am what you would call… a magician… or to be more specific, an alchemist.” The man explained.  “I can control some natural elements, and a few other things, like the blood test I used on you to confirm that you are an esper.”
Aurora’s fear seems to have lessened as they talked.  “What is an esper?” She asked in a soft, curious tone.
“Espers are gifted people.  Esper magic is like... a psychic power... but on different levels.  It is quite hard to describe, but each one possesses something a bit different from each other.” The old man explained.  “You, young lady, are one of them.”
“Lies!  Stay behind me Aurora.” Rayan retorted, still frustrated about being unable to help his friend.  “What do you want with her anyway?”
The old man eased himself onto a nearby rock, using his glowing staff to prop himself steady.  “I came hoping for her participation in this world’s esper training.  You see, here in Eldris, we have vast resources of magic, but sadly, we have lost the means of utilizing them.”
“Lost?” Rayan asked, somehow less alarmed now that the old man has relaxed.
“My world was once a place where everyone could harness the world’s magic and control it.” Jezriel replied.  “A thousand or so years ago, there was a great disagreement between leaders of Eldris, dividing us into factions.  Eventually, a great war broke out, destroying most of the population and depleting our powers.  It was during those dark times that the people lost their connection to magic.”
“How come you can still use magic?” Aurora asked.
Jezriel laughed.  “To some extent.  You see, nature slowly regenerated over the years.  But the people no longer had the skills to use its powers.  But there were a select few who still could.”
“Espers?” Aurora’s eyes brightened.  “Are you also an esper?”
“Yes.” The old man nodded.  “Some time in the past, we were the first order of royal guards to serve house Regulus, one of the most progressive of the five ruling powers in Eldris.  I am quite old now, and one of my tasks, is to look for a successor.”
Rayan smirked.  “I don’t know you, and I don’t like you.  We are leaving, Aurora.” He turned, taking Aurora’s hand.
Aurora gently tugged back.  “Rayan… wait…” she said softly, as if begging for more time.  “I… I want to try.  Don’t you feel it?  The air in this world...”
“Feels more like home than back in your world?” Jezriel continued Aurora’s sentence.  “That would be because you are attuned to its life and power.  All espers feel that way.”
“I don’t feel a thing.” Rayan grumbled, but let Aurora’s hand go, crossing his arms and impatiently tapping his feet.  “This man is dangerous I am telling you.”
“Please tell us more…?” Aurora’s eyes turned back to Jezriel, ignoring Rayan’s warning.
Jezriel smiled, stretching his hand out to Aurora.  “I can show you more.  Come with me to the castle.  You can come too young man.  After all, she will need her protector to feel safe.  There is no need to worry, I personally, as well as the whole house of Regulus guarantee your safety.”
Aurora took the old man’s hand and clutched Rayan with the other.  “My name is Aurora.  The grumpy one is Rayan.  He doesn’t like people.  We are orphans, but the village neighbors take care of us well.  We play in the caves a lot.”
Jez gave both of them a gentle gaze.  “I am pleased to meet you children.  I hope you decide to train with us after you see the wonders ahead of you.”
“Thrilled for sure.” Rayan snorted, his face in a tight pout.