“The first shall be last…”
Mahara, a mysterious city behind stone walls on top of the valley hill in the sub-desert. Caddeus was tempted to climb over those barriers for a glance of the forbidden palace. He felt fortunate enough to sneak into the Royal Market in front of the imperial gate, a place for the higher echelon. Their huts were tailored from a variety of pearly clothes. The ostentatious streets were colored vibrant red, as vendors sold illustrious antiques and technological novelties. Caddeus was waiting for The Great Chase, a dangerous race for Ardia, The Champion Colossus.
Caddeus planned to search for ancient and modern discoveries like any other Merrian Explorer should have done, but the aroma of their sizzling meats and popular sauces from the land’s mysterious pepper had his attention.
Caddeus procured a few of the gold and bronze tokens he had saved, praying they were enough for a fresh skewered fish for his morning meal. He was interrupted by a nudge on his back. He would have rather been assailed by an insane person with a knife, but it was worse. Nyla stood with her bronze hair in a bun that was as tight as her rigidness. She was unfairly taller than Caddeus and dressed in lavish apparel, hiding that she was as plain as boredom itself.
“I’m very pressed to believe a boy like you would attend this event. I assumed you understood your place,” she said.
“I’m sorry everybody isn’t as uptight as you. It must be very lonely to be the only one to make the finest of stone with the crack of thy backside.”
“You possess more wit when you mock me.” Nyla retorted in disgust. “Maybe you should apply such language to your articles instead of writing gaudy epics of your failures. I could only hope you wouldn’t partake in the Great Chase. It would only end the same as your prior ventures. Do you know why?”
“Because you never fail, supposedly.” Caddeus responded, “Did you know that nobody reads your journals? Or at least more people read my findings because they are actually exciting. I’ll make sure to put you in this latest piece, while you scornfully watch me ride off with your covetable colossus.”
Nyla laughed with her hand over her mouth, her popping vain still exposed despite the gesture. “Jest awfully well, but your eyes will be opened at noon.” She motioned the guards to come to her. “Please be diligent soldiers and check for this boy’s invitation. Frankly, he is beneath this place.”
The two round-masked guards, adorned red and silver, pushed Caddeus around demanding his identification. “Wait a second. I have it right here,” he replied casually as he pretended to reach for his shoe. Instead, he grabbed some dirt, threw it, and ran through a food vendor’s tent. He stole a skewered fish as he lost the guards in the crowd and jumped down the hill.
The sun was at its highest and hottest point as Caddeus trudged along the long, yellow, grassy plains with his fire-bike. It was made of bronze steel with multiple pipes thruster on the tail, balanced on one big wheel. He restrained himself from riding in order to preserve the engine’s red power-stones. He was greeted by the representative of Mahara, an adult adorned in silver jewelry and red garments.
“Thank you for your participation. Beware the infamy of this treacherous race. Many may perish in this competition. However, if not for your bravery and sacrifice, the Colossus would be wroth by the absence of the contestants. The beast would surely set its wrath upon us and our cities.” The Representative said.
“Interesting. So this Colossus communicates with your people?” he asked.
“Yes, it does… in its own frightful and brutish ways. Honestly, it is unsettling how intelligent that behemoth can be.” the representative responded
Caddeus was at the starting line, looking at the cheering stands of people at the sides, watching in anticipation. Two huge umbrella trees stood parallel to each other. The front was a breathtaking horizon of grassy fields and scattered trees.
There weren’t many competitors, though they each had gimmicks like different styles of fire-bikes, bizarre vehicles on ground and sky, and exotic riding animals. Despite the variety of racers and various styles of transportation, they were still a backdrop to Caddeus’ world.
Of course, he would ignore Nyla, but there she was. Armed with her Angel Saber, the handle glimmered with encrusted power-stones. She sported her royal blue cloak as mythical armor, riding a monstrous white stallion, with burning power-stone for hooves. As she sat on her horse looking down on Caddeus, he forced images in his mind of her falling in order to keep focus.
When Caddeus took his position, he was in the third row, revving his engine. He heard some commotion and laughter in the rows behind him. It was a young girl with hair as dark as plums and long enough to be a cape. Her baggy clothes were a filthy off-white color. She rode on an overgrown mountain tortoise. Her confidence, or stupidity, distracted him momentarily.
He waited for the gunshot or the sign to go, but there was nothing for a while. After what seemed like an eternity, he heard the roar! The violent sound stormed in his heart. The noise shook his brain like the poking a beehive. His fear intensified as every image of danger was fluttering in his mind. Ardia challenged, intimidated him, and everyone, even Nyla, lost her composure. Caddeus was relieved that he wasn’t the only one paralyzed by the resonance of the roar of the Colossus.
The little black-haired girl was charging forward on her mount chuckling with pride. Caddeus mustered the courage to push the pedal and then he bolted.
He passed the black-haired girl, but other contestants were on his tail. Caddeus heard quaking stomps approaching. It was Nyla gaining ground and closing in on him. He tried to cut her off, but she hopped over Caddeus. He was almost crushed under the monstrous gallop, but he tilted away. His face was inches from the ground. Recovering his composure, he drew his Aero Gun, an ancient firearm of the wind. But before Caddeus could aim, his head snapped back, due to a blinding flash of light. Nyla’s blade extended to unknown lengths to strike at Caddeus. She almost skewed his face, smiling menacingly in the process.
Suddenly, a mighty force came thrashing down before everyone.
The earth-shattering impact shook Caddeus and Nyla. Her stallion was clumsy as ever staggering into him, but Caddeus pulled his bike handle switch and ignited its fiery propulsion in order to blast ahead. He made sure to turn the bike just enough for his flaming burst to sting the white stallion’s legs. The creature collapsed, but Nyla dashed from the momentum and lunged with her saber. The blade stretched and pierced Caddeus’ bike to shreds.
He was flung into the air, but for a moment he saw the culprit of the sudden force that knocked them off- Ardia the Champion Colossus. Ardia was a behemoth lion, whose skin was as hard as gold. It’s flowing scarlet mane was as shiny as the sun, and its eyes were on fire like a foreboding star. The view of the beast mystified Caddeus as he came plummeting to the ground.
Caddeus woke up in a medical tent, feeling sore from his fall, both physically and figuratively. Nyla begrudgingly entered.
“I can’t get away from you. I thought you were done ruining my life for today,” he said.
“I have not the slightest desire to see you again either but.,” she responded.
Jaloon, an old man with gray hair in a long ponytail, silver frame glasses, and badge on his shoulder encrusted with three orange pearl star entered the tent after Nyla. Starless explorers like Caddeus and Nyla were normally supposed stand at attention in the presence of their superiors and mentors, but the overwhelming pain dragged Caddeus back to the flatbed.
“I didn’t know you were here, sir.”
“I was at the Royal Market. Nyla was with me as well. I tried to invite you too but you never responded.”
Nyla eyed Caddeus, hoping he would take the hint, so their discrepancies wouldn’t become even more obvious.
“Oh, well you know me-” Caddeus responded over eagerly.
“Sadly,” Nyla snickered under her breath
Jaloon continued. “I’m disappointed in you both really. You two always forgot you were on the same guild. And now the two of you are paying for it. I couldn’t believe what I saw today.”
“But!” Caddeus and Nyla answered simultaneously.
“But nothing. Instead of working as a team, as guildmates, and as former classmates, you had to fight each other like petty enemies. We are the Merrian Explorers! Our duties don’t solely consist of contributing our stories to the grand library. We took an oath! ”
“In all of our journeys, we will protect our fellow human, our fellow guildmates, and the life of our world.” everyone said.
“I’m sorry,” Caddeus apologized sheepishly.
“My apologies,” Nyla stated somberly.
Still reflecting on the day’s events, Caddeus exclaimed with hope and passion, “ We will take another shot at it the next time Ardia challenges the people.”
Jaloon simply laughed, “ There is no next time.”
“Please don’t kick us out!” Caddeus begged
“No, you ignorant boy. There was an unforeseen victory. She is even more annoying than you, frankly.” Nyla stated.
“Who?” he asked.
Caddeus walked with his arm around Jaloon, as they walked out of the tent. The black-haired girl with the mountain tortoise stood tall riding Ardia, laughing louder than ever. Caddeus had a different story to write for the library than what he envisioned.
Peculiar Parables 