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THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return. PROLOGUE
In the quiet town of Crestwood, nestled deep within the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, a chilling legend had haunted the residents for generations. It was a tale that sent shivers down spines, a story spoken in hushed tones around flickering bonfires on the night of the autumn equinox—a night when the boundary between the known and the unknown blurred, and the very air seemed charged with an eerie energy. The legend spoke of the "Footprint," an enigmatic and unsettling phenomenon that occurred like clockwork, as reliable as the seasons themselves. Every year, on that fateful night, the Footprint would reappear, etching itself into the rocky soil near the edge of town. It was a single, enormous footprint, larger than any man's, with distinct arches and toes that appeared impossibly human. And yet, it was a relic from the past—a past filled with mystery, uncertainty, and dread. Generations of Crestwood's residents had gathered around the massive bonfire in the town square, their f
THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return. CHAPTER 1: ECHOES OF THE PAST.
In the quiet town of Crestwood, things started to deepen as villagers crowd what seemed to have been a desolate land of fear and silence, nestled deep within the Appalachian Mountains, a chilling legend had haunted the residents for generations. They spoke in hushed tones of the "Footprint," a mysterious and eerie phenomenon that occurred every year on the night of the autumn equinox. As the townspeople gathered around bonfires, they shared tales of the Footprint's origin. Legend had it that over a century ago, a young man named Elijah vanished without a trace on that fateful night. The only remnant of his existence was a single enormous footprint, deeply imprinted into the rocky soil. No one could explain it, and over the years, the legend had taken on a life of its own. The townsfolk, perched on weathered logs around the crackling bonfire, exchanged stories that sent shivers down their spines. The elders recounted how their grandparents had spoken of the Footprint as a symbol of bo
THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return. Chapter 2: THE OUTSIDER
Ethan Brooks was a man of science, a professor at the nearby Crestwood University, and an outsider in the town. When he first arrived, the townspeople regarded him with suspicion, but his amiable nature and genuine curiosity won them over. Despite his academic pursuits, Ethan couldn't resist the lure of the local legend. Each autumn equinox, he would venture to the site of the Footprint, armed with his measuring instruments and an insatiable desire to uncover the truth. Year after year, he meticulously documented the anomaly, but its origins remained elusive. The townsfolk grew accustomed to Ethan's presence during the equinox nights. They watched him with a mix of curiosity and amusement as he measured and studied the Footprint. Over time, some of them began to approach him, cautiously sharing their own stories and beliefs regarding the legend. One crisp autumn evening, Ethan sat alone by the Footprint, surrounded by the quiet rustling of leaves in the forest. The equinox moon cast
THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return. CHAPTER 3: THE ENIGMATIC WOMAN
The autumn equinox arrived with a whisper of cool breeze, stirring the leaves in the forest around the Footprint. The moon hung like a silver coin in the night sky, casting an ethereal glow on the ancient symbol in the ground. Ethan, as he did every year, stood by the imprint with his measuring instruments, poised to continue his quest to unravel its secrets. As the night wore on, and the darkness deepened, a soft rustling in the underbrush caught Ethan's attention. He turned, squinting through the shadows, and saw a figure emerging from the trees. It was a woman, moving gracefully as if she were part of the night itself. Her hair cascaded in dark waves down her back, and her eyes, as they met Ethan's, held a depth of knowledge that seemed to span centuries. She was dressed in attire that seemed both out of place and timeless, like a relic from a bygone era. "Good evening," she greeted Ethan with a voice that was a melodic blend of warmth and mystery. "I see you're here again, seeki
THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return. CHAPTER 4: THE MIDNIGHT RITUAL
Ethan and Isabella spent months researching the Footprint, pouring over old journals, maps, and cryptic family records. Their shared fascination with the legend turned into a deep bond, and they became inseparable. They delved into the history of the Footprint, tracing its origins to centuries-old legends that spoke of a gateway to another world. Isabella's family records contained stories of ancestors who had ventured into the realm beyond the Footprint, their accounts filled with descriptions of surreal landscapes, mythical creatures, and the tantalizing promise of knowledge untold. With each passing day, Ethan's scientific skepticism was gradually giving way to an unquenchable curiosity. He marveled at the consistency of the reports, across generations, of strange occurrences during the equinox nights. It was as though the Footprint held a cosmic secret, one that was beyond the scope of conventional science. The bond between Ethan and Isabella deepened, their connection transcend
THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return. CHAPTER 5: THE REVELATION
As the ritual unfolded, the earth beneath their feet trembled. The ground cracked, and a blinding light emanated from the Footprint, casting an eerie glow across the forest. Ethan and Isabella watched in awe as the soil began to shift, revealing a hidden chamber beneath the earth. The chamber was bathed in the same ethereal light as the Footprint itself. The air was charged with a sense of wonder and anticipation as they cautiously descended into the underground chamber, guided by the unearthly glow. The walls of the chamber were adorned with ancient symbols and intricate carvings that seemed to tell a story of another world. Strange artifacts lay scattered about, relics of a civilization that had long been forgotten. It was as though they had stumbled upon a hidden archive of knowledge, waiting to be deciphered. Isabella's eyes gleamed with excitement as she carefully picked up a weathered journal from a stone pedestal. The journal bore the name "Elijah" on its cover, and it was fi
THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return. CHAPTER 6: THE PORTAL
With the journal as their guide, Ethan and Isabella continued on an expedition into the unforgiving depths of the Appalachian Mountains. Their journey led them through treacherous terrain, where the very earth seemed to resist their intrusion. Ancient trees loomed like silent sentinels, their gnarled branches casting long shadows that whispered of forgotten secrets. Ethan and Isabella pressed on, their determination unwavering. The journal's cryptic clues led them through a labyrinthine network of caverns, each one colder and more foreboding than the last. They uncovered ancient artifacts—relics of past explorers who had ventured into the mountains in pursuit of the same mysteries. But it was the cryptic symbols etched into the cave walls that captured their attention. These symbols mirrored those described in Elijah's journal, and they served as their guide through the twisting passageways. Each symbol seemed to pulse with a strange, eerie energy, as though they were a language of t
THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return. CHAPTER 7: THE UNCHARTED FRONTIER
Ethan and Isabella stood before the massive stone door, bathed in the otherworldly glow that emanated from the portal. The symbols on its surface had revealed their secrets, unlocking the gateway to a realm of wonders and mysteries. But as they exchanged their solemn decision to leave some mysteries unsolved, an unexpected turn of events shattered their newfound sense of resolution. Isabella had just finished speaking about the enduring enigma of the Footprint, the profound wisdom that some mysteries were meant to remain untouched. Her voice resonated with the lessons they had learned about the balance between curiosity and caution, the sacredness of preserving the extraordinary in life. Ethan nodded, his eyes filled with a sense of understanding and satisfaction. "You're right, Isabella," he said, his tone soft yet resolute. "Some mysteries are not meant to be unraveled. And in our pursuit of knowledge, we've found something more valuable—a lesson about the delicate balance between
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- THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return.
CHAPTER 134: THE INVINCIBLES ENDING
The dragon hovering over them lunged forward, Khalodi was flexible and skilled. He pushed them to the opposite direction while backflipping swiftly. The arrows passed his head ‘phew phew’ before he landed. Before they knew it, it was a sunny day. He dragon first tanned the skins but before giving them a hot bath. Zamorah didn't delay, he swiftly charged forward with anything that he picked first he used to define and smite the enemy.Khalodi had tried but it wasn't enough to save Rafi. One of the arrows caught him, this time in a place that he would have to lose the battle to death, his neck. He laid down in throbbing pain, there was no coming back whatsoever from this battle, death had won the battle over this life. Swiftfox was lucky, only a flesh wound on her arm as she struggled to safety watching the warriors exchange blows and iron clanging sounds reverberating the castle walls. She squeezed her arm and rolled under the dinning table. Zamorah, a man you could rely on when it w
- THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return.
CHAPTER 133: IT'S WHITE OUTSIDE, ITS LIES INSIDE
His brother was down; he took it personally. He had to fight for redemption now. Aliyah looked like she had just won a lottery, he was about to wipe away that smile. With his bow and arrow and his dragon, he was going to destroy her no matter what it took. Brotherhood and family was a concept he didn't joke with.He didn't even let them regroup, he sent arrows flying into their side landing on several chests. While he was at that the dragon spread his wings and rained fire down on the witches, giving them no room to heal.Zamorah's mind was lost in a web of thoughts as they walked, his eyes darting nervously from side to side. If only they knew that there was no Lateefah and the twins now dragons etched to destroy him, he would wake up from his fantasy. It was just a ploy to make him gain absolute control over them. Khal Duraho was not a man with an aota of mercy or compassion, once you are wrong you face the consequences of your actions. So definitely if he had Lateefah and the twins
- THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return.
CHAPTER 132: YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING
They rushed down to see what was happening at the castle’s ground floor. Zamorah instructed, “ keep an eye on him, let see what happening down there. Let's go!”Khalodi, Marx, Bonkey, Pronto and some other senior cadet members joined Zamorah. They scaled through the staircases with precision wondering who it was. Khalodi didn't wonder, he knew it was Khal Duraho. Underestimating Khal Duraho was like giving less credit to a snake in a room. If that snake wasn't confirmed dead, one should not sleep in the room because if you do, you may not tell the story to another. He played the chess move, he had only the queen and two pawns but he wanted to checkmate the other side who had the queen, knights bishops, rooks and a number of pawns. With the right strategy, he aimed at a stalemate if checkmate wasn't feasible. Khal Duraho was still so much in this battle!The first torch went out, then there was pandemonium. General Silver smiled, he wished Henry was present to witness the plan working
- THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return.
CHAPTER 131: WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE?
Aliyah stood at the edge of the camp, her eyes fixed on the dark silhouette of Zamorah's camp in the distance. The night breeze caressed her face, soothing her weary soul. This was the last night she would be ruled, the last night she would live as a subordinate. She was vindictive and would wreck vengeance on all giants, she didn't care whether they were all at fault or there was a particular group, she wanted all to suffer. As for the humans, that was Roosevelt's decision. She didn't have control over that besides she was a human, she wouldn't naturally want to hurt themThe night breeze whispered secrets as Aliyah stood at the edge of the camp basking in the moon's silver light. She snickered when she saw Olga, the runaway recalcitrant.She was determined that the transition from night to morning will begin new chapter in her life. She was no longer to be ruled but the ruler of her own destiny.As the darkness slowly faded away, giving birth to faint streaks of golden light, Aliyah
- THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return.
CHAPTER 130: THE PREPARED MEETS THE CUNNING IN BATTLE
What happens when you walk around with a group of friends who are armed with swords and all? You should feel like no fiery darts can harm you. What happens when you walk around with a lion? You feel secured, I'm not sure if you feel better with your armed friends or with a lion, perhaps we can never know because one lion may equal ten men. But what happens when you walk around with a dragon? Lions don't fly neither do humans. Dragons spit fires and humans don't, do lions do? Then we wanna talk about strength, maybe a lion is stronger but the peculiar attributes of a dragon give it's an edge. It was the most confident stride he had taken in a long while. After seeing it's capabilities, he felt Khal Duraho didn't stand a chance.Zamorah and his men stood at the edge of the underground tunnel, their excitement palpable in the cold night air. They had been planning this attack for so many days and now the time had come.Zamorah could feel a surge of power coursing through his veins as
- THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return.
CHAPTER 129: WHEN YOU'RE NOT ADVANTAGED ANYMORE
It was the second night without his priced possession in his chambers. It was happening too fast. Funny thing is that as much as he hated it he couldn't execute all his guards. How incompetent were they? To let one man and weakly pertulant female get through them and elope from the castle. Now he was desolate, with no one to trust and no one to rely on. Khal Duraho stood in front of his balcony, his heart racing in his chest. He had been restless for days, his mind consumed with thoughts of Khalodi and Marx. The two men had managed to evade capture for far too long, and Khal Duraho was determined to show them what he was made of.The balcony became small all of a sudden, it couldn't contain him. His heart alone was getting bigger than the vast space. He had no leads, he had failed woefully. He knew they laughed at him secretly and it pained him so much. How smart was Khalodi ? What was the limit to his deception? He had deceived him down to the night of his escape. Life was indeed no
- THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return.
CHAPTER 128: ALL HANDS ON DECK
In the depths of the ancient forest, where the trees stood tall and proud, a circle of witches gathered beneath the light of the full moon. Their faces were illuminated by the flickering flames of their torches as they stood in solemn silence, their eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them.They had sensed the shift in the balance of power, felt the ripple of magic that had swept through the forest like a whisper on the wind. And now, as they watched the babies transform into dragons, they knew that their time had come.With a sense of purpose that bordered on obsession, the witches set to work, gathering their ingredients and preparing their spells. They knew that the dragons were a force to be reckoned with, creatures of immense power and strength. But they were not afraid, for they wielded a power of their own – a power that had been passed down through generations, a power that had been honed and refined over centuries of study and practice.As the dragons took flight and dis
- THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return.
CHAPTER 127: Williams AND THE BORN TWINS
Williams was reluctant about it. He had suffered enough for this children. Now they wanted him to gove them out?“I have just escaped the ungodly hands of the ruthless Khal Duraho. And I promise you, whatever you saw here, it might only be worse compared to what the king has in mind for this group here.” Khalodi had a black look, trying to show the urgency of the help he needed.His decision mattered but he was all for the victory of the team. He didn't want any harm to reach his child but life was a risk. Even in his arms, the child could be harmed. Ethan thought otherwise they were warriors and they fought as well, Ethan persuaded him to profee solution to the problem at hand and finally he agreed. All hands were on deck as everyone was busy with what will bring them to success. Caitlyn, a skilled healer and caretaker would tend to the wounds of the fallen in battle. Cassandra after arriving with the veteran witch will head the medical unit and perform her duty well.He had read
- THE FOOTPRINTS. Journey of no return.
CHAPTER 126: METAMORPHOSIS
Rafi had never had anyone ask about him. He always seemed inconsequential and for someone to notice him, then there was a liking. Not that he wasn't all what the women would want or need, but he was a mere guard and guards never got that special treatment. He didn't know Caitlyn had something for Rafi, that means he made a good first impression. Rafi my man, why are you not here to see your first crush? He imagined shaking him in their traditional way, Rafi was like a brother and amongst all other wonderful characteristics in which he possessed, he was fun!O poor Rafi, he hoped he was still alive. He sacrificed a lot for them to be there. He wasn't where he was without him, he was a crucial part of his journey. If Khal Duraho was smart, he won't kill him, he will use him to get to them. He didn't mind that as far as it made a possibility for him to be alive. Bul Khal Duraho always never thought with his brain, his actions were mostly by impulse and it lacked firm reasoning.Caitlyn r
