The Dark Ichalocha Of Terres Nei

Chapter 5: Bearings Aren't Straight

A week later, Maleek abruptly woke up in what seemed to be a futuristic capsule bed. Disoriented by sleep inertia, he took in his surroundings, realizing that he was confined in a tight space. As his eyes scanned the capsule, Maleek made a startling discovery: he was naked. A surge of panic hit him, and in his urgency, he began to beat against the capsule window until it yielded to his efforts. When the opening appeared, Maleek was met with the menacing sight of two spears pointed directly at him.

Aware of the danger he faced, Maleek quickly assessed the situation and opted for a more composed approach. "Okay, let us all be cool," he urged, raising his hand in a gesture of surrender. The Fulani guards remained stoic, their spears ready for any sign of aggression from Maleek. Attempting to gather more information, he cautiously inquired about his whereabouts. "If you don't mind me asking, um...where am I?" he questioned.

"Silence! We'll do all the asking," retorted one of the Fulani soldiers. Maleek, frozen with fear, observed as the older male who had intervened in his potential demise walked into the room. Palo, as he introduced himself, gazed down at Maleek with an air of authority. "So, you are finally awake," he remarked, prompting Maleek's immediate demand to know where he was. Palo, seemingly amused by Maleek's sharp tongue, engaged in a brief exchange. Maleek, still grappling with confusion and fear, refused to comply until he got some answers. "You first," he insisted.

"I am Palo Bhikku! You can call me Palo," the older man responded. Maleek then disclosed his identity and origin, stating that he hailed from Detroit, Michigan. However, Palo seemed unfamiliar with the mentioned location, leading Maleek to express his frustration. "I am not answering any more questions until someone tells me what the fuck is going on?" he declared.

Palo, maintaining his composed demeanor, decided to defuse the tension. "First, let's get you dressed and fed. I will explain everything along the way." The promise of an explanation provided a glimmer of hope for Maleek, who followed Palo's lead despite the bizarre circumstances. As he was ushered into a new chapter, still uncertain of his fate, Maleek clung to the anticipation of unraveling the mysteries that had thrust him into this unfamiliar and perplexing world.

Maleek found himself adorned in a red thobe adorned with intricate black and silver etchings, a stark contrast to his recent nakedness. As he adjusted to his new attire, he soon discovered that his outward transformation was not the only change he would undergo. The Fulani guards took it upon themselves to restrain Maleek further, equipping him with magic-dampening shackles that encircled his neck, hands, and ankles. The weight of these enchanted restraints added an extra layer of difficulty to Maleek's movements, particularly his anklets, which impeded his stride as he attempted to keep pace with Palo and the Fulani guards.

Unable to contain his frustration, Maleek voiced his discontent, questioning the necessity of such extreme measures. "Is this fucking necessary?" he demanded, struggling against the confines of his magical bonds. Palo, seemingly unperturbed by Maleek's outburst, calmly explained the rationale behind the shackles. "It is a necessary precaution after the immense power you displayed a week ago. These shackles dampen an individual's magic abilities."

Maleek, still grappling with the surreal nature of his situation, couldn't help but scoff at the idea of magical abilities. "I don’t have magical abilities because they don't exist," he retorted with a chuckle. The clash between Maleek's skepticism and the magical reality surrounding him highlighted the stark contrast between his world rooted in science and technology and the mystical and arcane he had been thrust into.

Undeterred by Maleek's skepticism, Palo continued leading the way through a long corridor designed like a Basilica. The architectural grandeur was juxtaposed with the stark reality of Maleek's captivity and the clinking of his shackles with each step. Despite the discomfort, Maleek couldn't help but notice the advanced technology that surrounded him. "Besides, nice tech you have in here, by the way," he remarked, attempting to find common ground in the midst of his bewilderment.

As they navigated the Basilica-like corridor, Maleek's senses were bombarded by this otherworldly environment's unfamiliar sights and sounds. He couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider, a sentiment only intensified by the magical restraints that bound him. Yet, with each passing moment, the enigma of his surroundings and the clash between magic and technology, fueled Maleek's curiosity, offering a glimmer of anticipation amid the uncertainty that lay ahead.

As Maleek emerged from the corridor, he was greeted by a surreal sight that juxtaposed the ravages of war with the enduring beauty of Illuminarium City's capital. The hall opened to an expansive view that painted a vivid picture of destruction and magnificence. Smoke billowed ominously from the streets below, weaving a somber narrative of recent turmoil. Damaged buildings stood as stoic witnesses to the trials that had befallen the city, their scars telling a story of resilience in the face of adversity. Yet, amid the wreckage, Illuminarium City stood as a testament to unwavering splendor.

The paradox of beauty and destruction unfolded as Maleek took in the scene before him. The city's skyline was adorned with the enchanting glow of an Aura Borealis, a celestial display that cast a cascade of different light-colored spectrums across the landscape. It was a breathtaking vision, where the ethereal dance of lights seemed to defy the harsh reality of the damaged surroundings. The juxtaposition of destruction and the undiminished allure of Illuminarium City left Maleek in awe, caught between the remnants of conflict and the city's enduring spirit.

The smoke-choked streets below hinted at the recent struggles that had besieged cities denizens. The once pristine structures now bore the marks of war, yet the city's innate beauty persisted, refusing to be extinguished by the trials it faced. The Aura Borealis overhead, with its mesmerizing hues, served as a poignant reminder that even in the darkest moments, there could be a glimmer of hope and beauty.

As Maleek stood at the threshold of this cityscape, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions. The destruction spoke of challenges and hardships faced by its inhabitants, yet the radiant display above suggested a resilience that transcended the physical scars. Illuminarium City was not just a victim of war; it was a living entity that refused to be defined solely by its wounds.

The city's spirit seemed to echo in the air, inviting Maleek to contemplate the complexities of this world he had unwittingly become a part of. The delicate dance of lights above spoke of a realm that held secrets and stories, each spectrum a chapter in the history of Illuminarium. It was a city that had weathered storms, and as Maleek observed the resilience etched into its very skyline, he couldn't help but feel a sense of connection to this place, a connection that transcended the boundaries of his understanding.

In that moment, as the Aura Borealis continued its celestial dance and the damaged buildings bore witness to the city's endurance, Maleek stood at the crossroads of beauty and destruction. His journey into this enigmatic realm had just begun, and the captivating view before him hinted at a narrative waiting to unfold; one that would undoubtedly reveal the intricate tapestry of Illuminarium City and the role Maleek was destined to play in its ongoing saga.

As Maleek's eyes widened, absorbing the panoramic view that unfolded before him, his gaze fixated on the awe-inspiring Lemurian Palace that loomed over the horizon. The citadel, a testament to an architectural marvel, stood colossal and commanding, partially obscuring the cityscape beneath its grandeur. The juxtaposition of this majestic structure against the backdrop of a city scarred by war left Maleek in a state of profound disbelief.

Breaking the heavy silence that hung in the air, Maleek couldn't contain his bewilderment. With a mixture of awe and urgency, he demanded answers from his guide. "Yo' man! Can you tell me where the hell am I?" The question echoed through the hall, a plea for understanding in the face of the surreal scene that unfolded around him. Palo responded with a calm yet assertive tone, unraveling a piece of the puzzle that was Terres Nei. "This realm is called Terres Nei! We stand inside the realm's capital city. You are here in the Illuminarium Monastery medical wing."

Maleek, still grappling with the enormity of the revelation, couldn't help but comment on the stark contrast between the regal beauty of the city and its battered appearance. "For a capital city, it sure looks pretty banged up." The words escaped his lips as an observation tinted with both curiosity and skepticism. Palo, undeterred by Maleek's directness, began to shed light on the city's recent history and the war that had taken its toll.

Palo's explanation painted a picture of resilience amidst adversity. "We are at war. Our city was under siege, and we were on the verge of losing." The acknowledgment of conflict and imminent defeat underscored the significance of Illuminarium's struggle, amplifying the impact of the war-torn cityscape that lay beyond the halls of the medical facility.

Maleek, absorbing the gravity of the situation, pressed for more details. "How the hell did you manage to survive?" His question carried a weight of genuine curiosity, reflecting his desire to comprehend the resilience that allowed Illuminarium to endure in the face of overwhelming odds.

"Well, I hope that you will tell us!" Palo responded, revealing a glimmer of hope in Maleek's unintentional role in the city's salvation. Maleek, still processing the revelation that he played a pivotal part in the city's survival, couldn't fathom the source of his apparent abilities. "Why would you think I would know?" he queried, seeking clarity on the mysterious shockwave that had altered the course of the conflict.

"Because of you, most of the Seklas' army was decimated," Palo revealed, linking Maleek to a pivotal moment in the war. Maleek's incredulous response, "Me?" echoed through the hall, emphasizing his struggle to reconcile his ordinary existence with the extraordinary events unfolding around him.

"Yes, you! Upon arriving in our world, you released a decimating shockwave that obliterated our and Seklas' army and all forms of technology throughout the city," Palo explained, leaving Maleek in a state of wonderment and disbelief.

"Amazing! All that untapped potential. Come, you must be hungry," Palo remarked, diverting the conversation to more immediate concerns. As Maleek followed, the weight of his newfound knowledge hung heavy in the air, hinting at the complexity of his role in Illuminarium's story and the challenges that lay ahead.

"We are at war. Our world is in peril, constantly under siege by an army limitless in number. We were on the verge of losing," Palo calmly explained, the weight of those words hanging heavily in the air. Maleek, fueled by a mix of curiosity and determination, pressed for more details, eager to unravel the mystery of the Illuminarium people's survival. "How the hell did you manage to survive?" he inquired, his words a reflection of the city's resilience against the looming threat.

Palo's response carried a tone of hope and expectation. "Well, I hope that you will tell us!" he declared, hinting at a belief in Maleek's potential significance in the city's salvation. Bewildered and struggling to comprehend his role in this unfolding conflict, Maleek questioned the assumption that he held crucial information. "Why would you think I would know?"

"Because of you, most of the Seklas' army was decimated," Palo revealed, dropping a bombshell that linked Maleek to a pivotal moment in the war. The revelation left Maleek in a state of incredulity, his confusion palpable. "Me?" he asked as if seeking confirmation that he was, indeed, the unexpected force that had altered the course of the battle.

"Yes, you! Upon arriving in our world, you released a decimating shockwave that obliterated our and Seklas' army and all forms of technology throughout the city," Palo affirmed, connecting Maleek to a power that transcended the ordinary. The weight of the revelation settled on Maleek's shoulders, leaving him grappling with the realization that he, an ordinary man from Detroit, possessed abilities that defied comprehension.

"How?" Maleek inquired, seeking an explanation for the newfound, apparently destructive powers that had manifested within him. Palo's admission was candid and perhaps equally perplexed. "I don't know!" he confessed, laying bare the uncertainty that surrounded the origin and nature of Maleek's abilities. This admission did little to ease Maleek's confusion; if anything, it deepened the enigma.

As they walked through the corridors of Illuminarium Monestary, the weight of Maleek's newfound knowledge and the implications of his role in the city's defense bore down on him. The cityscape outside, with its juxtaposition of war-torn buildings and the ethereal Aura Borealis, mirrored the dichotomy within Maleek himself; a man thrust into a conflict of epic proportions, armed not with understanding but with uncontrollable power.

"Amazing! All that untapped potential. Come, you must be hungry," Palo suggested, shifting the focus to more immediate concerns. As Maleek followed, still grappling with the implications of his unintentional impact on this war-torn world, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe, confusion, and a growing sense of responsibility for the fate of Illuminarium City. 

Palo escorted Maleek through the imposing corridors of the monastery, leading him to the dining hall. The grandeur of the hall unfolded before Maleek's eyes, constructed with marble and polished limestone materials. Rectangular tables and bench chairs made from wood adorned the space, offering an earthly touch to the otherwise majestic surroundings. The bench seating, cushioned with fibers, hinted at a blend of comfort and simplicity.

Seated at a table, Maleek was presented with an array of local fruits and vegetables, accompanied by a wooden goblet filled with a mysterious white substance. Perplexed by the unfamiliar food, Maleek cringed at the sight. "What is this?"

"Food! You don't eat from your world?" Palo responded matter-of-factly. "Yeah!" Maleek replied as picked up the food to examine it under the fine eye of scrutiny. 

"Then eat. You'll need your strength." Maleek hesitated for a moment but eventually delved into the unknown feast before him. He took a sip of the drink, and the flavor danced on his tongue; unknown yet savory. The orange libation, akin to a smoothie, held a mixed flavor of citrus and honey, prompting Maleek's eyes to widen with approval. "Not bad!"

"I tailored your servings with the proper nutrients to help you recover strength," Palo explained. Maleek couldn't help but notice the curious gazes of the people around him. "Why are people looking at me like I robbed the place?" Maleek queried. "You are a stranger who prevented our destruction. Some are amazed by your presence, and others fear you!"

"Fear me, huh," Maleek sarcastically stated. "Anyway, the food is not bad." Maleek approved. 

Palo's words resonated through the air, an urgent plea for Maleek to comprehend the gravity of the situation unfolding in Terres Nei. "I make it plain to you, my friend. There are forces in our world that have one purpose: our destruction. Therefore, you need your strength if you are going to be able to survive these troubling times. However, Terres Nei would have been extinct if it wasn't for you." The weight of Palo's revelation hung heavy in the air, a burden that Maleek struggled to fully grasp.

"I don't see how I helped in any way," Maleek confessed, his confusion apparent in his voice. The enormity of being thrust into a world on the brink of destruction seemed too surreal for the ordinary man from Detroit to comprehend. "You will. I believe you can help us win this war," Palo asserted, his unwavering conviction cutting through Maleek's skepticism. The idea that an outsider, a stranger from another realm, held the key to victory in a war he had stumbled into was a notion Maleek was reluctant to accept.

"Um, nope! Let me stop you there. I want to go home. I am quite sure people are looking for me," Maleek asserted, expressing his desire for a return to normalcy. The yearning for the familiar surroundings of Detroit, away from the complexities of Terres Nei's conflicts, was palpable in his voice.

"Maleek, let me show you something." Palo's tone shifted, a mixture of urgency and determination. He retrieved a crystal from his satchel and activated a hologram video, revealing the chilling events of the throne room attack. "Whoa, sweet! What am I looking at?" Maleek's initial reaction, though tinged with awe, soon turned into disbelief as he witnessed Venganza's attempt to end his life during his catatonic state.

"Just watch!" Palo urged, sensing Maleek's growing astonishment. The revelation that Venganza had tried to kill him, not with conventional weapons but with magic, pushed Maleek to question the very fabric of reality. "Magic doesn't exist."

"Maybe not in your realm. However, it is our world's life force," Palo explained, emphasizing the fundamental difference between Maleek's world and the mystical forces at play in Terres Nei. Maleek scrutinized the holographic images, captivated by Venganza's impressive fighting skills, even without any visible weapons. "She has impressive fighting skills. Who is she?" Maleek inquired, his curiosity overcoming his initial shock.

"Her name is Venganza Arcana di Samsara Dukkha. She is Nibiru Nei’s most preeminent eclectic enchantress and the queen of her realm. But, unfortunately for us, she is our enemy," Palo revealed, shedding light on the formidable adversary that Terres Nei faced.

"Why did she try to kill me? What did I do to her?" Maleek sought answers, struggling to make sense of the inexplicable threat that had been unleashed upon him. "Venganza does not need a reason to kill. You were merely fair game to her," Palo explained, painting a picture of a merciless antagonist driven by an insatiable desire for destruction.

"Since you have survived her attacks, she will likely come after you!" Palo's words carried a foreboding warning, the realization sinking in that Maleek's continued existence presented a persistent threat to Venganza. "Why would she be coming after me? I didn't do anything to her," Maleek protested, grappling with the idea that he had become the target of an obsessed, super-powered enchantress.

"Venganza does not like to fail at anything. Your presence here will only remind her of that," Palo elucidated, emphasizing the danger that Maleek inadvertently embodied. "Okay, now I know I gotta get back home. I don't need some obsessed super-powered psychotic witch trying to kill me." Maleek's determination to return to his familiar world intensified, fueled by the looming threat that now overshadowed his every moment.

"Maleek, we can't send you back." Palo's declaration hung in the air, shattering Maleek's hopes of a swift return to Detroit. The realization that he was stranded in a world at war, hunted by a relentless adversary, marked a turning point in Maleek's journey; an odyssey that seemed destined to shape the fate of Terres Nei, whether he embraced it or not.

"Oh, hell no," Maleek exclaimed, his reaction immediate and visceral. The prospect of being stranded in a world threatened by a magical and vengeful adversary had pushed him past his breaking point. The urgency in his voice matched the intensity of the situation. He jumped out of his seat, a mix of panic and determination in his eyes. "You are sending me back home."

The Fulani soldiers on guard, vigilant of any signs of disturbance, started to rush towards Palo's table. Palo, displaying a calm authority, raised his hand, signaling them to remain at their posts. "Maleek, please calm down and have a seat," Palo requested, his tone a blend of reassurance and command. Maleek, feeling the weight of the impending danger, complied with Palo's request and reluctantly took his seat, though the unease in his posture was palpable.

"Maleek, I can't send you back because I don't know how to. Venganza used powerful cosmic magic that tore the veil between our world's reality. Unfortunately, Venganza is the only one who knows the spell and is powerful enough to cast it." Palo's revelation further tightened the knot of fear in Maleek's chest, and panic began to set in.

"Shit! This... this witch is going to kill me. Talk about being caught in a real-life fatal attraction. Okay, um, I must hide. Where can I hide?" Maleek's mind raced, desperately searching for a solution to evade the impending threat. "Maleek, hiding will not do you any good. Venganza has eyes and ears throughout our realm. She will find you," Palo warned, his voice carrying the weight of the inevitable.

"Okay...um, maybe I can offer a truce," Maleek suggested, his mind grasping for any semblance of a plan. "Listen to me, Maleek. Venganza can't be reasoned with. She doesn't feel pity or remorse. She will not stop, ever, until you are dead!" Palo's stern words laid bare the harsh reality Maleek faced; a relentless and merciless adversary driven by a malevolent purpose.

"Shit! I gotta think of something," Maleek muttered, rubbing his head in frustration. The magnitude of the situation, the threat closing in around him, was becoming overwhelming. "Maleek, stay calm. I am going to do my best to protect you," Palo reassured, attempting to inject a sense of hope into the dire circumstances.

"How can I stay calm, man? I got a target on my ass! How are you going to protect me? You said that this... this woman is more powerful than you!" Maleek's frustration and fear spilled out in his words, the reality of the perilous situation settling in.

"I'll think of something," Palo responded, his tone carrying a determination that betrayed the uncertainty of their predicament. The air in the room became charged with tension, the weight of Maleek's existence hanging in the balance of Palo's ability to navigate the treacherous waters of magic and vengeance. As Maleek grappled with the profound danger he now faced, the once-distant war in Terres Nei became an imminent threat, and the fate of an ordinary man from Detroit became entwined with the mystical forces that governed this unfamiliar realm.