The Urania Institute (A work of 4 years)

The Urania Institute

Book I:

By Sam Alterman

Dedicated to the memory of Ron Hegedusmce_marker

Scroll I: The Journey

Chapter I: Murder in the Forest

The forest was silent. The birds, long asleep, the rabbits and foxes, caring for their children in their dens and burrows. Wind rustled the stoic branches, and only one with the sharpest eye could pick out a shadow nestled in the trees. A shadow with long, brown hair. The peaceful calm was disturbed by the clattering of a horse. A black horse sped through a winding road, finally stopping at a clearing.

“Stop, boy,” said the rider, draped in a long black cloak, who dismounted with an easy jump. There was a pause, and then another man emerged from the darkness.

“You have the prophecy, peasant?” asked the rider.

“Y-yes, noble Paris,” said the other man, bowing, drooped so low his head touched the ground.

“Get up!” commanded Paris sharply. The other man stood up briskly.

“Recite the prophecy.”

The man stared around, cleared his throat, and began.”

“Twixt iron sword and wooden shield’

“The feather strong the priests shall wield”

“And overthrow the holy writing”

“And when shall cease all fighting”

“The world will be ruled by only one.”

“But this shall not come to be”

“If Argemennedon and Anaximander are free”

“And with them stands the holy bolt.”

“Ready to strike down the priests’ fault.”

“And the world again shall be ruled by none.”

Paris smiled, his golden tooth gleaming in the darkness. “Thank you, old man. You’ve told me all I needed to know.” Paris drew his long, black sword and eyed it cruelly. Then he slit the man’s throat. The man garbled, gasped, and fell to the ground as blood pored from his neck. Paris turned, addressing three men who appeared from the gloom. “Saddle the horses! We ride by the dawn’s first light!”

A figure dashed from the trees. A small girl leaned over the dying man. “Father!” she cried, holding his arms close. “Artemis!” gasped the man. “Please, the forgotten lines!”

“What?” asked Artemis.

“And when all hope is finally spent, the dead shall rise, and truth will be bent.” He wheezed. He gave a racking cough.

“Run, maiden of the wind.” He whispered. And then he slipped away to Hades.

Artemis looked up, tears in her eyes. She was face to face with Paris. “What do we have here?” he asked maliciously, smiling with crooked teeth. Artemis opened her mouth in horror. Quick as a snake, she bit down on Paris’s hand. “AH!” he yelled, pulling his hand away. Artemis scrambled for her father’s horse. “GET HER!” yelled Paris, sucking on his hand. Artemis grabbed the reins. “Flee, Bucephalus, Flee!” she whispered in its ear. Bucephalus neighed in agreement and took off down the road. Artemis held on for dear life. They rounded the corner and a spear planted itself into tree feet away from Artemis. She looked behind her. There we three horse riders, two with swords, and one with another spear. And behind them, was Paris, rapidly gaining. Bucephalus was a strong horse, but old. She was losing distance between herself and her pursuers quickly. A black man holding a sword laughed. He rode his horse until he was right beside Artemis. “Good-bye, sweet-heart!” he laughed, and raised his sword. Artemis unlatched her legs from around Bucephalus. She spun almost 90 degrees around the horse and kicked the man in the stomach. The man groaned, but shook it off and looked at her with pure hatred. Artemis’s gamble had failed, and now she was defenseless, a sitting duck to the man. She grabbed for anything, anything! She found nothing but the bag of sand she had collected on the beach only a few days before. She made one, last, desperate risk. She let go of Bucephalus. She fell, and with only one hand holding on to Bucephalus’s neck, was dragged along. The man, who had swung with all his force, found himself slashing at air. He overbalanced, and fell off his force, landing in the dirt facedown. Then his horse’s back leg kicked him in the small of the back and he lays still. Artemis climbed back onto Bucephalus’s back. She glanced behind her again, and gasped in horror. Paris was right behind her. Swinging an awful broadsword, he was only yards away. His eyes were full of pain and anger.

Artemis grabbed the bag of sand and released it into Paris’s eyes. The bandit yelled in pain, and crumpled off his horse. Artemis sighed in relief. Then suddenly Bucephalus fell, an arrow in his throat. Artemis screamed and fell to the ground. She lay there, gasping for breath. Two riders dismounted next to her, and Paris stumbled beside them. “Kill her!” he rasped. “Kill her now!”

One of his colleagues lifted up an axe. The other pinned her arms behind her back and held her up. “No!” she shrieked. Paris cackled. The man lifted up his axe for a final strike…and got plowed down by a charging Bucephalus. Artemis struggled free and ran. She heard Paris sprinting after her. “I’ll kill you, you little brat!” he yelled. “Come here and die!” Artemis cried as she ran, crying for her dead family. And Paris thundered blindly after her, as they approached the beach of the Aegean Sea.

Chapter II: Shipwreck

One boy. One boat. And the vast, Aegean Sea. One storm cloud overhead.

Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed. A man’s voice called “POSEIDON! Get

back under the deck!” The boy did not move. His black, wavy hair,

blowing in the strong wind. The man shouted “POSIEDON!!!!! Don’t make

me carry you down here!” “NO! Alexander!” This time it was a woman’s

voice. “Don’t go out there! It’s too dangerous out there!” Poseidon

looked down at the stormy water. A black shape suddenly passed under

the boat. Poseidon looked again, confused. But the black shape was

gone. “I’m hallucinating” Poseidon muttered to himself. “Poseidon!”

yelled the man. “Get back in here! It’s a storm! Get under deck!” A

crazy wave grew in height and hit the boat at tremendous speed. “Look

out!” the man yelled. Poseidon slid across the deck, grabbing for a

handhold. He hit the side of the boat and went flying into the crazy

sea. Just before the boat exploded. A giant tentacle twisted around

the boat and broke it in half. Poseidon gasped, and went under. Trying

to hopelessly keep his head above water. A black shape grabbed at him.

But then it recoiled, as if in pain, and swam away. And Poseidon saw

only water. And he was sinking. Further….further, into the unforgiving embrace of the sea.

Poseidon shook his head. He was back in his cave. He was

having another nightmare once again. He rested his head back on the

pillow and settled down for another rough night.

Chapter III: The Boy With Blue Eyes

Artemis raced out of the forest onto the sandy beach. Three seconds later, Paris emerged behind her, waving his sword like a madman. Artemis tripped and stumbled to the sand. Paris laughed in glee. “So long, girlie!” Artemis frantically rolled to one side as Paris’s sword sliced into the sand where she had been just a second ago.  Her scrabbling hand found a rock, and she threw it at Paris with all her might. “Ow!” yelled a very annoyed Paris. “You’ll pay for that!”

Poseidon looked out of his cave. What was going on here? He silently approached where the sounds where coming from. As far as he knew, this beach was abandoned and private. Which was just how he liked it. He had no family now, and he could trust only himself.

Artemis struggled hopelessly. She was pinned down, Paris’s foot on her chest, his sword raised. “Game over,” he whispered, and stabbed down. Artemis was floating in pain for a brief second, and then suddenly the pain relinquished. Her chest was bleeding, but it was no fatal wound. “What the…”

Poseidon and Paris wrestled back and forth over sand dunes. “This is none of your business, boy!” yelled the bandit, throwing Poseidon to the ground. “This is my beach, and anything you do on it is my business!” replied Poseidon. Paris’s hands found themselves around Poseidon’s throat, and he began to squeeze with all his might. Poseidon began seeing a tunnel of light, and his hand met something metal and hard. He grasped it, and stabbed, hard, at Paris with his own sword.

Paris suddenly found himself impaled.” No,” he whispered, and stumbled backwards toward the patiently waiting sea. He tried to pull the sword out, but he knew he was doomed. And then a large wave crashed upon the beach, enveloping Paris, and where the lord of bandits had once stood, there now only stood two pairs of black boots.

Artemis felt herself being carried. She didn’t know why, where, or how. But she only knew how tired she was, and she closed her eyes to sleep, hoping then when she woke up, the world around her would be better.

Chapter IV: A School of Magic

Theosticles stroked his silver beard. “You say that there was a golden spark here?” he asked. The golem nodded, not speaking. Theosticles stroked some more, thought some more, and finally came to a decision. “Go investigate!” he announced. “We must find out what has happened there, yes, we must indeed, yes, yes…” He yawned. Should have taken his afternoon nap, he thought. “Shoo, shoo!” he said, waving away the golem. The golem scuttled off to go do its mission, and Theosticles promptly fell asleep.

Scroll II: Admission

Chapter V:

The Dolphin

Artemis woke up, not realizing where she was. “Father, where are-“she stopped, remembering the horrible events of last night. Paris murdering her father, Paris chasing her, Paris stabbing her…so why wasn’t she dead? Perhaps she was in the Underworld? No, it defiantly did not look like the Underworld. She sat up on her knees, and shakily got to her feet. She was in a cave of some sort, and she examined it. Shells and pearls decorated the interior. There were two bunks. She briefly remembered someone carrying her…but who was her rescuer? She walked outside the cave and looked around.  A boy in a toga was sitting at the end of the beach, fishing with a small net, and humming a song. Artemis carefully approached.

Poseidon was not thinking of the fish really. He was enjoying the dolphin who was splashing about in the shallows. Poseidon wished he could sprout fins and go join him. But at least he could say is poem, which he had been thinking about for a while.

“

Dolphin

A dolphin speeds through the Aegean Sea.

A silver arrow, a gray key.

A precious gift born from the sea.

Oh, what a joyous thing to see!”

Poseidon sighed. He loved poetry. “that’s beautiful!” exclaimed a voice behind him. He spun around, surprised. Behind him was the girl he had saved yesterday. “Hello,” he said. The girl stared at him with frightened eyes. “Wh-what happened to Paris?” she stammered. “Paris?” Poseidon frowned. “You mean the bandit?” The girl nodded. “He’s dead.” The girl’s mouth gaped open, and Poseidon went back to fishing.

The dolphin seemed to smile in the distance. For the first time, Poseidon noticed it was wearing a leather collar. To his surprise, the dolphin came closer. He splashed out into

the water. He had always loved dolphins. His family had once visited

Athens, and his father had given him 10 gold coins to spend in the

market. He saw a beautiful shop that was a silk tent. He had walked

inside. In there had been an old Egyptian craftsman. Poseidon saw a

beautiful painted wood sculpture of a dolphin. He had asked the craftsman

how much the dolphin had cost. The man had stroked his beard. Then, he said “For you, young man, 10 gold coins.” Poseidon had gladly bought

the sculpture. Now, of course, it was gone now. Gone with his family

and his houseboat he had loved. The dolphin swam up to him, and

touched his snout to his arm. He noticed a piece of parchment. He read

it. It said:

To Master Poseidon,

First, us up here at Mount Olympus would like to applaud your poetry.

Second, we would like to invite you, and the girl standing next to you reading over your shoulder to a special school called The Urania Institute for Mages. You will not have to pay for enrolment.

Enclosed is enough money to pay for your school supplies. The school

list is enclosed. Hope to see you at the school.

Theosticles, Head of school.

P.S. The dolphin will take you to school.

Poseidon looked at the school list, and found it quite unusual. It

read:

School List for Urainia Institute

1 Oak, Pine, Beech, Teak, or Olive staff.

Bag of magic runes.

Pet (Owl, newt, seagull) (optional).

Magic books (list is in Archimedes’s book shop)

Poseidon stared at the list, mouth hanging open. The dolphin stared back at him. Behind him, Artemis finished reading, and gasped. “The Urania Institute?” said Poseidon. Artemis looked at him. “So I’m going too, to this place. What’s your name by the way? I’m Artemis.” Poseidon was still staring at the letter. He managed to tear his eyes away to look at Artemis. “I’m Poseidon.” He looked back at the letter. Then he looked at the dolphin, in confusion. The dolphin shrugged back at this. Poseidon sighed. “Come on, let’s go.” He said to Artemis. Artemis looked at him. “What, already?” she asked. Poseidon replied “If we don’t leave, the bandit’s helpers might show up, and there will definitely be trouble.” Artemis thought about it for a while and then nodded. Poseidon got on the dolphin and Artemis got on next to him. “This better not be a joke,” said Poseidon through gritted teeth as the dolphin sailed out to sea. Poseidon looked around at the ocean around him and closed his eyes. The last thing he wanted to remember was his old life.

VI: Paris

Paris floated through the water, not breathing, his blood leaving a trail of red as he sailed out into the stormy sea. He was falling farther away, and darkness was closing around him. And then there was darkness approaching. Something in the darkness, blacker than the night itself, and suddenly he was enveloped by a slimy sensation. And it was lifting him through the water.

Paris gasped in air as he suddenly erupted from the sea. His brain reeled from the sensation, and it took him several seconds to realize he was alive. And bleeding. He put his hand on his chest and whispered “Restore…” The bleeding stopped, and Paris sighed in ease. And then sat up in fright. He was 30 feet above the ocean, in the hold of something very slimy. As the sea roared around him, he looked down, and saw one, gigantic, black-as-night eye. It blinked once, slowly, and Paris saw 3 other gigantic tentacles waving around the monster as it moved through the sea. And he looked up at the sky and laughed. And laughed, and laughed, and did not stop laughing until the sea storm was passed and he was lying, a bloody heap, on the sands of a faraway beach.

Chapter VIII: The Institute

Poseidon awoke on a bed. An extremely comfortable one, too. He had slept better than he had slept ever since his family had perished. Where was he? He must be at the Mage School. He turned over.  He was in well-furnished room. It had a long, red, Persian carpet and a water clock in one corner. A painting of Mount Olympus was hung on the other. A window was on one of the walls. Poseidon got up, went over and looked out.

The Institute was on an island. He saw 3 boys flying around on large, winged horses. His father had told him about them once, the pegasi, but he had thought they were myths. The school has three, large towers, center around one large castle. It looked majestic in the afternoon sun.

There was a knock at the door

Chapter IX:

Duel of the Gods

Artemis woke up. She was gliding on a huge owl. Of course, she

remembered, the owl was Athena. Why had she come? Oh yeah, she had

been invited to some school. Cool. She was finally someone important.

Maybe she could learn about swords, so she could run through Paris

with one when she met him. Athena landed down in a clearing in a small

forest. “Do you want some nectar?” asked Athena. “It’s really quite

good.” At that moment a bright flash appeared next to a tree. A tall

man with a long sword appeared. Athena eyed him warily. “What do you

want, Ares?” she asked him. “I challenge you to a duel!” yelled Ares

over excitedly. “As you see, Ares, I am escorting students!” she said

tiredly. “You can’t refuse a duel!” Ares said warningly. “I’m not

declining it, I’m trying to talk you out of it!” said Athena. Ares

rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, big dif!” He summoned a fireball in his

hand and smoked the nearest tree for absolutely no reason. Athena

glared at him and pulled out a long spear. “If it’s a duel you want,

it’s a duel you’ll get!” she said between gritted teeth. Ares rolled

his eyes again. “How could I guess? A spear is such a girl’s weapon!”

He pulled out a gigantic sniper rifle. “Uh, what’s that?” asked

Artemis. Athena stared angrily at Ares. “Please, Ares, not in front of

the mortals!” Ares sighed disappointedly. Then he smiled as he

remembered something. A lightning bolt smote the ground in front of

Athena and Artemis. “Ares, what do you think you’re doing?” asked

Athena suspiciously. Ares waved his hands innocently. “Oops, I missed-

uh, I mean, it wasn’t me!” Athena stabbed Ares’ hand. Ares drew back

his hand and dropped a lightning bolt. Athena frowned at Ares. Ares

rolled his eyes and put back his sniper rifle. He summoned a

broadsword from thin air. “Let the duel begin!” he yelled. Then he

added “You won’t beat me with that wimpy spear!” Athena smiled for the

first time. Ares jumped into the air and performed a back flip. Athena

slashed with her spear, meanwhile conjuring a fireball. Ares crashed

into the spear. He went flying into the tree. Athena threw the

fireball. Boom! A very burnt and embarrassed Ares backed away from

Athena. Athena kicked him and then lunged with her spear. Ares dived.

Too late. Ares backed away, a spear through his leg. “Ouch!” he said.

Then he pulled out the spear and stalked away angrily. Athena smiled.

“Girl’s weapon, huh?” she chuckled.

Chapter X: Divine Traitor

Paris laughed an evil laugh. “Mwahahahahaha!” Paris laughed. A soldier

walked up to him. “No offense, my lord, but that is a horrible evil

laugh,” he said cautiously. Paris glared at him. He decided he would

kick this soldier out when the time came. They were almost at the

school. Then he would be able to capture that girl and bring her to

his bosses. She was the only flaw in their plan. She was the one who

could defeat them. So he had been hired to remove her. Easy. Then

again, there was another. She might not be the only one. A loud cry

interrupted his train of thought. He looked back toward his soldiers.

An Egyptian bowman was on the ground. He was being struck by a tall,

burnt man. Wait a moment, that was no man! That was Ares, the god of

war! Ignoring the wounded soldier, Paris walked up and bowed to Ares.

Ares looked down at Paris. “Finally, someone respects me!” he said.

Paris smiled. “My pleasure, your majesty,” he told Ares. Ares liked

this mortal. He was someone who respected his authority. Then he

noticed all of Paris’s soldiers. “What’s all this?” he asked. Paris

smiled. “I’ll make you a deal.” He said. Ares was quite interested.

Maybe this modest commander could get back Athena for embarrassing

him. “What?” he asked. Paris grinned; he knew he had found a way to

get in the school. Paris replied enthusiastically. “You allow me

access to the Mage School, and I get revenge on your arch enemy!”

There was silence. Then Ares stuck out his hand. “Deal!” he said.

“Deal,” Paris confirmed.

Scroll III:

School Life

Chapter XI:

A Friendly Welcome?

Poseidon opened his eyes, expecting to find himself in the Underworld.

Instead, he was floating in the sky. Maybe he was in the Elysian

Fields? That was the place for heroes, like Hercules. “Hey!” someone

yelled. Poseidon looked over, and saw the man who had urged him to

jump. Poseidon was quite confused. Then he looked down casually, and

wished he hadn’t. The only thing that kept him from falling out of the

sky was a two-inch thin cloud . Poseidon thought he was going to be

sick. Then he saw that the tall man with long, shaggy hair was moving

closer. No, wait, his cloud was moving close to the man. Poseidon was

riveted by this magic. They must have enchanted the clouds to move on

their own accord! His cloud eventually caught up to the man’s. The man

stuck out his hand and said “Good job. I’m the guard, by the way.”

Poseidon shook his hand. The clouds slowly landed near the castle, and

the guard and Poseidon stepped down onto the rich soil. They heard a

whoosh above them. Poseidon looked up, and to his amazement, saw a boy

riding a cloud. The cloud was moving dangerously fast. Poseidon

stared, open-mouthed, as the boy was joined by three others. They

raced around the castle and soon disappeared around the other side.

“Wow!” said Poseidon, in awe. The guard rapped eleven times on the

door. There was a pause, and then door creaked slowly open. The guard

walked slowly into a long hallway. Poseidon followed. Poseidon looked

around, and saw several doors. The guard pointed to a door leading to

a staircase. “This leads to your dormitories,” he said. He walked up

the staircase, and Poseidon followed cautiously. The door shut behind

them. After every eleven stairs, there was a floor. On the third

floor, the guard led Poseidon into a room filled with red and green

furnishing. There was a stool in one corner, and some beds in the

other. A couple kids were in the beds. Most were sleeping, but one or

two were awake and reading scrolls. The guard pointed to an empty bed.

“That will be where you sleep, study, and so on.” Said the guard. “The

other kids will tell you when classes are.” Poseidon nodded,

pretending he understood. The guard nodded back, and started walking

down the stairs. When he was gone, one of the boys looked up.

“Greetings, you midget!” he said. “I bet your mom smelled like a

catfish!” Poseidon reddened. He had never been insulted before. The

boy laughed. “Ha ha!” he mocked. Poseidon clenched his fists. “Runt!”

yelled another one of the boys. That toppled it. Poseidon felt like he

was exploding. He said something, but he wasn’t sure what it was. The

clock struck eleven , and then the boy who had insulted him was flying

through the air. The last thing Poseidon saw was the boy crashing

through the window, and then Poseidon blacked out.

Chapter

XII:

Orion

Artemis had arrived at the school on owl back. Athena had carefully

explained what to do to her. On her way to the girl’s dormitories, she

had seen a boy being carried to the healer. He had his fists clenched

and was muttering something. And then the most surprising thing had

happened. A centaur trotted up. “Did you hear about what happened?” he

asked, excited. Artemis shrugged. “What?” she asked. “Some boy, who

didn’t even believe magic was real, through another boy out the window

without even touching him!” Artemis looked unimpressed. “So what?” she

said. The centaur’s eyes widened. “Do you know what that means!” he

said. “By the way, my name is Orion.”

* * * * * *

Poseidon groaned and opened his eyes. He was looking up into the eyes

of a healer. He lifted up his head. The healer pointed her hand toward

the door. “Go back to your dormitory!” she said. Poseidon tried to

remember what had happened. “Pronto !” the healer said. Poseidon

walked out of the healer’s hut, and walked into the castle. He

remembered what had happened. How had he done it? It was like, some,

special power! When he got to the dormitories, all the rest of the

kids where huddled in a corner, looking at him. Except for the bully

he had thrown out the window. He was in a cast, but his good arm

managed to make the “You, me, death” sign. Poseidon nodded angrily. He

knew he wouldn’t fit. Not even a week and he was already a freak. The

clock struck twelve. Everyone headed for classes. They tried to stay

as far away from Poseidon as possible. Chemistry class now, thought

Poseidon. How did he know that? Poseidon shook his head, and headed

for chemistry class.

Chapter

XIII:

Healers

It was night at the castle. The only person awake was the guard. He

leaned against the gate, watching. An arrow whished, someone was

getting ready to fire. The guard stood still, yawning. Then an arrow

buried itself into the guard’s back. The guard calmly rang the alarm.

“Riiiiiiing!” Far away, in the boy’s dormitories, the bells rang.

Poseidon looked up. He looked out the window, and saw terror. There

were things around the castle. There was chaos and murder outside. The

things were killing students, everything.

Then he woke up. He had been snoozing in chemistry class. There was

Master Apollo, talking about something to do with a willow tree and

penicillin. Whatever penicillin was. Half of the class was also

sleeping. One mage student nervously raised his hand. “Sir?” he asked

“Why do we have to learn about ancient healing. Isn’t modern healing

better?” Apollo glared at the student. “Oh, you think modern is good!”

he yelled at the student. “Well, let me tell you about America …” He

was cut off by Athena entering the room. “Apollo, there is news,” she

said. “Zeus is going off on some important mission, something to do

with Hades.”

Apollo rolled his eyes. “Just like Zeus,” he said angrily. The clock

struck one. Athena exited the room. Apollo kept on talking. “A willow

tree is always the best healing device for healing wounds.” He took

out a spider out from a jar under his desk. “Like a spider bite!” he

said. The spider bit him, and then the spider dropped dead . “I’m

immortal, not a human, silly spider,” Apollo muttered. “Oh well, it’s

time for you boys, and girls, to get your school supplies for your

next class, magic class.”

Chapter

XIV:

School Equipment

“Oh where, oh where will I find a staff? Oh, where oh where would it

be?” Artemis was singing AGAIN. Poseidon was almost ready to throw HER

out the window. He liked her and Orion, but Artemis loved to sing.

That would not have been a problem if she was any good at singing.

Then again, they were the only friends he had, the only ones who had

visited him at the healer’s . “With a wooden handle and a pretty

gem…”

That did it for Poseidon. “In the staff makers shop, by the Zeus’s

lightning!” “How about you two go, I have my great grandfather’s.”

said Orion. “Your great grandfather was a mage too?” said Poseidon.

“He was Chiron.” Orion muttered. The staff maker’s shop was across the

street. “Come on, let’s go,” he told Artemis. They went into the staff

maker’s shop. Artemis was still singing. “Oh, where will I find a

staff?” Poseidon rolled his eyes and tried to drown out the horrible

sounds with his mind. The staff maker looked up at them. “Is that

thunder I hear?” he asked. Artemis stopped singing, embarrassed.

“Well, anyway,” said the staff maker. “What staff do you want?”

Poseidon blinked. He didn’t know that you chose a staff. The staff

maker went over to a trash pit. “How about one from here?” he asked.

Poseidon was surprised. This guy kept staffs in his garbage? The staff

maker pulled out a wondrous staff. How about this one?” he asked.

Poseidon loved it.

After shopping, Poseidon was in a flowing, white toga, holding a beech

staff with dolphins carved in the swirling wood and a sapphire held up

by 4 amethyst sea horses on top. A smart-looking, white osprey with

brown markings around his eyes. Artemis was examining her olive tree

staff. It had emeralds embedded in it. “It will help you control your

power,” the staff maker had said to Artemis. Artemis had felt the

wisdom of Athena embedded in the staff . The staff was a unique. Then

again, every staff was unique. Orion galloped up next to them. “Want

to go to the ice cream shop?” he asked. Poseidon was confused. What in

the heavens was ice cream? “It’s something that’s made in the clouds

of Olympus,” Orion explained. Poseidon shrugged. Why not? They walked

into the ice cream shop. There was a table and some unoccupied chairs.

Poseidon and Artemis sat down. Orion asked for a centaur stand.

Centaurs don’t sit on chairs.

Chapter XV:

Plottin’ With a Smile

Ares threw a potato chip in the air and swallowed it whole. He burped.

The small animals living in the woods around him passed out. Paris

ignored Ares. Paris was plotting his invasion plan. He would send in

the axmen first, because they could scale the valley walls. They would

capture the castle, and extend the magic bridge. Then the rest of his

troops would rush in, take the students prisoner, and Ares would deal

with the two gods in the castle, Apollo and Athena. Paris smiled, and

laughed with glee. Ares burped again. There goes a rabbit. Paris stood

up, and addressed his soldiers. “We attack tomorrow!” he announced.

Soldiers cheered with anticipation. The hydra roared with all of its

seven heads. A bubbling started in the lake nearby, and a massive sea

serpent erupted. A legion of skeletons clacked off the serpent’s back.

Reinforcements from Hades. Paris yelled loudly, louder than any of the

soldiers. He knew that he would be victorious. And once he finished

his job, Hades would release his family. Paris smiled with glee again.

“Who could lose with this army?” He thought. The answer was two ten

year old kids.

Scroll IV:

War of the Mages

Chapter XVI:

Flying

Poseidon had gotten very good in the last couple of days. Their first

real class had been mage spells with Athena. Poseidon had learned how

to levitate . When he had been tired, he would do something he called

levitate and meditate. None of his classmates could levitate. Artemis

was also the only one in her dormitory who could levitate. Sometimes a

boy would walk into the dormitories and see Poseidon meditating

several feet off the ground. Usually that freaked the others boys out

. Today was pegasi riding with Prometheus, the guard. Prometheus had

explained to Poseidon that the original horse, Pegasus, had gave birth

over the years and so the pegasi that they would be riding would be

some of Pegasus’s young. Poseidon was amazed at the thought of riding

a winged horse. He and some other students had cautiously approached

the stables before anyone else could. Poseidon had felt at ease among

the angelic horses, and he had wanted to ride one as soon as he had

set eyes on one. The pegasi that he had started riding was named

Perseus, after a Greek hero who had killed the gorgon Medusa. Perseus

had calmly let Poseidon on, and then Perseus had brayed. Prometheus

had told Poseidon that this was their “victory call.” Only one other

person besides Poseidon had thought he was ready for the lesson. The

other person was named Matthew. The other schoolmates had watched as

Matthew had challenged Poseidon to a horse race. Now Poseidon stood

there, thinking it over. He paused, thinking. “Bring it on!” Poseidon

finally yelled. The students cheered. “To that tree,” Matthew said,

and he pointed to a tree about 200 yards away. Then Matthew jumped

onto his horse , Grinni. Poseidon got onto Perseus. “III!” yelled the

students. “II! I!” Poseidon yelled in excitement and urged on Perseus.

Perseus jumped in the air and Poseidon saw Matthew falling behind.

They were in the air now, and had crossed about 50 yards in several

seconds. Matthew was right behind them. The marking tree grew closer

and closer. Then Poseidon saw Matthew was holding his staff. Matthew

said something, and Poseidon was knocked off Perseus. Poseidon just

managed to hold onto one of Perseus’s wing. Matthew laughed, and

pulled side to side with Perseus. Poseidon felt an anger flowing threw

him, and whispered in Perseus’s ear. “Celer,” Suddenly, Perseus sped

up. Poseidon guessed that is must be a magic incantation. The odd

thing was he didn’t know where it had come from. Suddenly, he heard

Artemis and Orion cheering. He had won! He was the fastest rider in

the Institute!

Chapter XVII:

Attack!
Poseidon awoke at sunrise. It was a red sun. A blood red sun . It

shone on the pearly white snow that had fallen the night before. Then,

he saw the first. An axeman climbing down the valley wall. They were

under an attack. Poseidon sat up with surprised eyes. “What in the

name of Zeus?” he said. Matthew sat up with foggy eyes. “Whaaa?” he

asked. “Look outside!” Poseidon yelled! Matthew looked out the window,

and he, too, saw the approaching army. Then they heard the alarm horn.

Everyone panicked, even though they had practiced this in battle

class. This couldn’t be happening! Poseidon and Matthew managed to get

it under control. “To the stables!” Poseidon yelled. The students

cheered, and rushed down to the stables. Poseidon quickly mounted

Perseus, his pegasi. Matthew was beside him, riding Grinni. “To the

end!” Matthew yelled. “To the end!” Poseidon agreed. And then they

were off. Matthew, Poseidon, and a student named Ptolemy. They were

riding on there pegasi, toward the enemy, who was approaching the

castle. The crisp, cool, wind mused up their hair as they sped along.

Then Poseidon heard a sharp cry. He turned round and saw Ptolemy. An

arrow was sticking out of his chest, and a small trickle of blood was

visible. Ptolemy gasped, and fell off his pegasi. He fell to the

ground and lay there still. Poseidon felt a familiar anger flowing

through him, and he saw the archer who had killed Ptolemy. He yelled

in rage. Then they collided with the army, Poseidon drew his sword,

and jumped off Perseus. The closest person was an enemy archer. The

archer drew his bow, but never got a chance to fire. Poseidon stabbed

him through the heart and killed him instantly. Poseidon was probably

more surprised than the archer. Then there was a thud as the archer

hit the ground, and Poseidon came back to his senses. He looked back

and saw the rest of the students arriving to fight beside him and

Matthew. The army was growing closer. Soon the battle would be upon

them.

XVIII:

We Meet Again

“Poseidon!” He turned around and saw Artemis. She was holding a staff,

and a cruel looking broadsword. “Cool.” He said. “Behind you!” Artemis

yelled. Poseidon swung around and caught an arrow in his shield. The

trio was soon joined by Orion. His shield of oak and copper gleamed in

the cold winter sun. His spear with a pine shaft and iron head

glinted. A silver breastplate covered his human torso. The 4 gold

horseshoes on his hooves glistened menacingly at the enemy army. Then,

the crowd of students charged, led by the quartet of Mathew, Artemis,

Poseidon, and Orion. All that could be heard was the whizzing of

arrows and the clash of metal swords meeting punctuated with the cries

of the fallen. The snow that had been white as a pearl earlier that

morning was now stained red as a ruby from the blood of the fallen.

Poseidon swung out his sword and caught an enemy through the chest. He

looked around and saw he was surrounded. Then another student,

Leonidas, struck one of Poseidon’s assailants and killed him. Poseidon

and Leonidas crushed the surrounding enemies, and looked around. There

were many enemies lying dead on the ground, but just as much students

were gasping for breath. Poseidon twisted around and saw a tall man.

He was wearing a gigantic iron buckler with a picture of the Chimera

carved on it. Next to him was Matthew.

Matthew was poised to ambush the man from the rear. The man looked

familiar, yet Poseidon couldn’t quite place him. But just his face

alone made Poseidon’s face boil. The man swung around and caught

Matthew off guard. “So, we meet again,” he said with a sneer. The man

lifted up his sword and Matthew parried it. “You!” said Matthew. The

man roared a battle cry and swung his sword. “Yes it is I, Paris, ally

of Hades, the Dark Lord!” Matthew desperately blocked Paris’ blows,

but Poseidon could see that he was weakening. Paris took a might swing

and the flat of his blade whacked his head, knocking him out cold. He

rolled on the ground, and lay close to the valley cliff. Paris lifted

his sword and prepared to kill Matthew. Poseidon said in a rush of

urgency “Glomus Hydros!” A great ball of water shot towards Paris,

soaking him and pushing him back a good 5 yards. He grinned madly at

Poseidon. Poseidon ran madly at Matthew. He heard Paris yell

something. He looked back and saw a raging fireball rushing at him. He

grabbed Matthew and yelled “Vacuous Glomus!” The fireball was

surrounded by a vacuum which quickly smothered it. Poseidon looked

around and saw troops approaching at all sides. He knew that it was

hopeless. He then remembered what the guard, Prometheus, had said.

Just jump. Poseidon turned, and still holding Matthew, jumped off the

valley cliff.

* * * *

Artemis was not sitting around painting her nails . She had been

battling and she and her pet owl had wiped out 3 regiments of

phalanxes, and 5 axeman. Leonidas had been battling with her, but then

a phalanx spear had stabbed him, and in his last breath, he had

muttered “Glomus Pyr!” conjuring up a fireball which consumed both him

and the 20 phalanxes around him. Artemis had been guarding the corpse

of Leonidas. He deserved a hero’s burial. He was so noble. He had told

her to leave him. He had saved her. Orion rode close to her and

speared an axeman that had been creeping up on her. Battle was

horrible. Artemis turned around and saw another student, named Marnj.

He was surrounded and hopelessly lost. He stabbed and slashed. But

numbers defeated power. Artemis ran toward him in an attempt to save

him. Then Marnj was overwhelmed and when Artemis saw him again, this

once bold figure was lying on the ground with blood seeping from his

waist. Artemis summoned the wind around her and blew the swordsmen who

were responsible for his death away. So many people dieing! It was a

nightmare. Then she turned around and saw someone she recognized. It

was Paris. He glanced at her and grinned an evil grin. He walked

steadily toward her. “Artemis!” Orion yelled. Artemis looked around

and an arrow whizzed over her head. She looked back and saw Paris was

closer than ever. He stopped, and then charged. Artemis lifted her

shied. She heard a clang and her shield split. She raised her sword

and stabbed at Paris. He caught it on his buckler and banged her

sword. It snapped and fell into the valley canyon. She was

defenseless. She backed up until she got to the edge of the canyon.

Trapped. Paris moved closer. Then she heard someone yell “Artemis!”

she turned around and saw the guard Prometheus, at the other end of

the canyon. He tossed her a sword. She caught it and turned around.

Paris frowned, and then brought in a slash from the left. She parried

the otherwise fatal blow. Another attack, this time a swipe at her

neck. She jumped out of the way. Then, out of the blue, she felt a

pain in her arm and saw blood flowing from a deep gash in her arm. Her

arm dripping blood, she retreated to the temporary safety of the

castle.

Chapter XIX:

Final Battle

Artemis was in the castle. “Restoration” she said, her voice barely a

whisper. The air in the small room smelled heavily of honey and

ambrosia. Her skin covered the hole. She looked out, and saw her

fellow mages, losing horribly. It might have been a losing battle, but

they would fight this battle like the great Spartan generals, to the

death.

*  *  *  *

Mathew groaned. “Don’t move, you’re only going to hurt yourself.

You’ve been terribly hurt,” said Poseidon in a soothing voice. “My

magic has dried up,” croaked Mathew “I can’t heal. Where am I? On a

giant pillow?” “You are on a giant cloud. I came to the island on one.

And don’t worry about your magic.” With this, Poseidon healed him.

*  *  *  *

Paris had seen Poseidon and Matthew go onto the cloud. He whistled and

the hydra came bounding over. It had two crumpled mage staffs in its

mouth. “Spit those out!” commanded Paris. “You don’t know where

they’ve been!” The hydra spit them out, directly at Paris. Paris

dodged them and regretted his reluctance to get a book about hydra

taming. Then, he jumped onto the hydra. The hydra released several

golden wings, and flew down to join the two boys on the cloud.

*  *  *  *

“Poseidon!” yelled Matthew! Poseidon looked up, and saw a flying

hydra. “What the-” he yelled, but then the hydra’s neck knocked him

off the cloud and he was falling…falling…

*  *  *  *

Artemis looked up and saw Matthew. He was standing on a cloud, and

with Poseidon’s sword, defending against a flying hydra, with Paris on

its back! “Oh man,” she whispered, and ran to the pegasi stalls. There

was only one pegasi left, and Artemis jumped on it. In an instant, she

was flying towards the cloud.

*  *  *  *

Poseidon felt pain. Immense pain. He was falling. Crunch. He crashed

through a wooden roof, and he was still falling. Falling… falling…

With a crash, he landed on tiles. He couldn’t move… hurting…

hurting.

“Poseidon!” he tried to look up. He couldn’t He passed out. Light…

disappearing…no…light…

*  *  *  *

Artemis landed on the cloud and swung at Paris. Paris easily shifted

his position and Artemis’ sword flew past him. He slashed back at her

and caught her on the knee. His next blow was headed for her neck. His

sword made it halfway before Matthew’s sword blocked it. Matthew

jumped at Paris. Paris was taken by surprise, but his sword managed to

point at Matthew’s heart. Matthew’s eyes widened in surprise, and then

his pulse slowed. Paris laughed, and failed to see Artemis’ sword

headed toward him.

*  *  *  *

Poseidon felt power flowing in his veins. What the? He jumped up from

the tiles where he had been lying. There was a pool of blood where he

had been. He saw Athena battling with Ares. He instantly knew that

Ares was a traitor. With a sudden blow, Ares knocked Athena’s sword

out of her hand. Poseidon caught it. Ares slashed at Athena and

knocked her into a pool of water, which for some reason was bubbling.

Then Ares turned toward Poseidon. “I’ll stop you!” yelled Poseidon

bravely. Ares laughed, and gestured with his hand. The pool of water

erupted. Three giant tentacles came out from the pool and reached

toward Poseidon. Poseidon gulped.

*  *  *  *

Paris laughed, and a sword whistled by, chopping off his ear. He

screamed, and his hand clapped up to his severed ear. Artemis swung

again. This time he blocked it with his sword. Artemis was angry. She

roared, and slashed at Paris’ heart. Paris jumped back, and he drew

his bow. Artemis stopped, and began chanting. Paris loaded the bow

with an arrow and aimed it toward Artemis.

*  *  *  *

The hydra was tired. It wanted… wait… what was this girl saying?

Eat

the man… eat the man… It turned around and ate its cruel master. He

tasted like chicken. Yum yum.

Chapter XIX

Divine Disturbance

Far away, in a palace on Mount Olympus, Zeus, king of the gods was

having a meeting. He was talking to Heracles, who had been granted

godhood. “I don’t want to be called Jupiter!” he complained loudly.

Heracles shrugged. “It’s inevitable,” he said. “It’s not like I want

to be called Hercules.” Zeus was about to say something, but he felt a

disturbance in his liver. Must have been indigestion. Have to see

Doctor Apollo about those pills. The disturbance was there again. He

sighed, and told Heracles “I got to go, Hercules!” Then he

disappeared, tracing the disturbance. He found himself in the

underworld. A shade was contacting him. It was a middle-aged man, who

looked like he had once been a sailor. The shade said three words.

“Save my son.”

Chapter XX:

Anaximander

Poseidon lifted his sword and ran, screaming at the great Norse

monster. The kraken whipped its tentacles at Poseidon, trying to trip

him. Poseidon yelled “Argemendon!” and a gigantic fireball erupted

from his sword toward the monster. The fireball exploded against the

kraken and Poseidon was temporarily blinded. He blinked, and a sudden

tentacle knocked him off his feet. He regained balance and cut off the

tentacle. It fizzed and dissolved. He leaped at the monster with his

sword pointing straight at it. The sword crept into the kraken’s skin

and the monster moaned in pain. Then it exploded, for Poseidon had

more power than he knew. Poseidon went flying through the air and hit

a wall. He crumpled to the floor. His back had been broken like a rag

doll. But he was still alive. Ares laughed. “I see you have killed my

pet,” he said. “But that was just a game.” He raised his hand. “Game

over,” he said. “No!” said a voice. A shimmering began in the center

of the room. And then, a 20-foot Greek emerged, floating above the

ground. “Ah… Zeus, uh, well, uh” Ares stammered. “Be gone.” said Zeus

and Ares disappeared. “What about Poseidon?” asked Athena. “He will be

cared for,” said Zeus.

Chapter XXI:

Home

“Poseidon!  Wake up!  Paris escaped!”  “Wha?  Oh, hi Artemis!”

Thus concludes my current work.  I can not take total credit for this work.  I am in eternal debt to my editor, good friend, and fellow incoming freshman David Longauni.

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