Shadows of the Skull Cult

By Rhys Clarke

The hero was a man named Whittaker, his three companions being Elsa, Gregor, and Ben, a dog. They were being hunted by the Skull Cult, a mysterious organization that sought to capture and enslave them. However, with his magical abilities, Whittaker managed to use his mind control powers to manipulate his pursuers into abandoning the hunt. After that, the four companions made their way towards the town where Elsa was supposed to live, hoping to find shelter there.

Now, faced with the prospect of confronting the Skull Cult and fighting for their survival, Whittaker knew he couldn't fail. Not after everything he had already accomplished. He would have to keep on fighting, even when he wanted nothing more than to give up. And with his companions by his side, he was confident they could defeat the cult once and for all.

Whittaker's journey to save Elsa and his companions had only just begun. As he and the others traveled down the road, Whittaker couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding... could he save his beautiful witch and protect his other two companions from the dangers that awaited them in the village ahead? He had no idea what would happen next, but he did know one thing: he'd do whatever it took to make sure the others survived. He owed it to them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rhys Clarke
• Release date: Jun 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227682352

Book preview

Shadows of the Skull Cult

Rhys Clarke

Published by Rhys Clarke, 2024.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

SHADOWS OF THE SKULL CULT

First edition. June 22, 2024.

Copyright © 2024 Rhys Clarke.

Written by Rhys Clarke.

Also by Rhys Clarke

Quest for Revenge: Ralf's Destiny

Ryder's Quest: Descent Into Darkness

Shadows of the Skull Cult

The Waking Nightmare

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Also By Rhys Clarke

Shadows of the Skull Cult

Also By Rhys Clarke

Whittaker had been a slave in the castle of the evil Baron for almost his whole life. The Baron would always take him on long walks around the castle grounds so that he could get accustomed to his new home and see what there was to do while being a prisoner. He knew all the places to find food, hideouts, places to sleep...all sorts of things.

But then one day everything changed when the Baron's wife died. The Baron took it very hard, not wanting anyone else to know just how much she meant to him since no-one else in the world could be as beautiful as her. He became depressed and withdrawn into himself. This made Whittaker feel even worse than before because it was like having someone you were close to die and you didn't even realize until afterwards. But this time they had no choice but to escape their prison because the Baron started to get more and more violent toward them as well. They had to flee through some secret tunnels under the castle, which they had found during one of the long walks with the Baron, and now he wanted revenge for his wife's death.

He told them that they had better leave and never come back or else he would make sure they suffered just like he had when their parents abandoned him to an orphanage as a child.

So, they escaped.

They had to cross the desert, climb up the side of the mountain, scale down the other side, and then swim across the ocean. After that, they were forced to run from the dragon that lived at the bottom of the ocean.

Now they were here.

This place was nothing like they had ever seen before. It was dark, cold, wet, and damp. There was no sign of any plants anywhere except moss growing on rocks in some small patches. They couldn't even make fire without using flint, and if you did try to burn wood, it turned immediately to ash. They hadn't eaten in over a week since they left the castle.

Their clothes were torn to shreds, their skin was scratched, and their feet were sore from walking everywhere. Their dog was limping badly after the long journey across the desert and ocean. They'd been running out of water too but thankfully they managed to find a stream and fill their canteens.

Let's stay here for tonight, said Whittaker. We can rest our bones and look for something we might find edible in the morning.

Gregor sighed.

Ben whimpered, his tail wagging weakly.

The group sat down next to each other in a circle. They pulled up their socks and tied them around their shins, put their boots back on their feet. They ate whatever they could find from the forest: leaves and nuts and berries and roots and bark and flowers and anything that looked remotely edible. Then they curled up under several large trees with blankets, cloaks, and their bags. As soon as everyone was asleep, Whittaker began his ritual to cast spells.

A few hours later the three men came awake in a clearing that overlooked a lake. There was a large tree near the edge of the forest. They could see the sun peeking up over the horizon through the branches and leaves above them. All three stretched their legs and arms and rubbed their eyes.

Ben whined and scratched at his leg where he had hurt himself yesterday. Whittaker got up and walked over to Ben's sleeping body. He petted him gently. The dog opened one eye and then closed it again quickly.

They were quiet for a moment. The sun gradually moved its way higher in the sky. When it rose enough to shine light onto the grass, they decided to go on. The men picked their bags up and set off through the forest and towards the lake.

They followed the stream and then walked along the shoreline. The trees thinned out and gave way to wide fields of tall grass and wildflowers, all the way down to the lake and then the ocean beyond.

I wish I wasn't wearing these silly boots anymore, said Gregor as he walked along beside Whittaker.

Whittaker chuckled.

It'll be warmer once we're out of the forest, replied Whittaker.

They kept walking until noon, when the sun was shining directly overhead. It was still very cold, but at least there weren't any clouds in the sky today. That helped them to warm up slightly. The sun warmed their backs and dried their sweat, but didn't provide much warmth itself.

After lunch, they continued north along the shore. There were many birds flying overhead and landing in the fields of grass. They watched them fly by for a while before continuing to walk.

As the sun began to sink behind the mountains to the west, they stopped at the edge of a cliff and took shelter in the shade.

How far do we have to go? asked Whittaker.

I don't know, replied Gregor. We have to find a village or a city eventually so that we can get more supplies. But I'm not sure how big the whole island is.

Ben sat down next to him and whined softly. Whittaker scratched the dog between his ears.

Are you hungry? asked Gregor.

Ben barked loudly and shook his head.

Well, continued Gregor, we've eaten all the berries, nuts, leaves, mushrooms, and whatever else I found in the forests already. We're running out of food. And I think we're going to need more than what's left in my bag before the trip ends.

Ben barked again.

You don't seem to like me talking about this stuff, said Gregor, scratching at his beard, but I have to admit, things are getting really serious here.

Whittaker nodded.

Gregor looked at Whittaker. We can't go on like this forever; we need food if we're going to survive.

Whittaker looked up at the moon and stars shining brightly into the sky.

I can sense that there's a village close by, he whispered.

Gregor nodded.

But first we should make some sort of plan.

Whittaker nodded.

They stood up and walked away from the cliff for a while.

Gregor whistled. A few moments later they saw a small animal run across the field and disappear among the trees. It was a rabbit.

Whittaker whistled again. This time it didn't take long for a deer to appear. It ran across the grass towards them with a large rack of antlers and white fur. Whittaker pointed at it, and Gregor whistled again. A moment later several more animals appeared, including two wolves, four hares, and an owl.

Wow, exclaimed Gregor as a squirrel jumped on his shoulder. What happened?

Whittaker smiled.

I'm a blood mage, he said.

Gregor grinned.

That explains everything.

A loud cry came from somewhere above them. All of the animals scattered and disappeared among the trees. Whittaker, Gregor, and Ben looked up and saw a great red bird circling high in the sky. Its long wings beat powerfully against the wind as it flew back and forth in front of them, occasionally glancing over their heads. The bird circled the area and then landed on the top of the nearest tree. As Whittaker walked towards it, the bird looked at him curiously.

Whittaker reached out to stroke its feathers but pulled his hand away as soon as it got near it. The bird cocked its head at him.

It likes me, he laughed nervously, because it knows what I am. You see, I used magic to tame this bird. So, you see, I am able to control and command animals too. He scratched the bird under its beak, trying to calm it down.

What are you doing here? he asked.

The bird turned around and started to walk back towards the edge of the cliff. Whittaker followed. When they reached the edge, they saw a large cave below them. The bird went inside and disappeared. Whittaker looked at the cave for a while. Then he turned and looked up at the bird in the sky. The bird had gone quiet now that it knew he wasn't alone. It flew off in another direction and disappeared into the distance.

Let's go down there, said Gregor.

Whittaker nodded. They walked down the path until they were standing on the floor of the cave. Gregor led the way into the darkness. A few meters further, a torch illuminated a narrow passage leading deeper into the earth.

Do you think you could make your way through the forest without being seen? asked Gregor as he held up his torch.

Whittaker laughed nervously, shaking his head. No way.

Gregor sighed. There's no point in keeping secrets, he said. If you want to get to that village, you'll have to use magic.

I'd rather not.

Gregor looked at him curiously. Why?

Magic isn't always nice. And I prefer not using it unless necessary.

Gregor stopped walking. He placed his hands on either side of him and stared at the rock wall in front of them.

Alright then, he said, I guess we'd better do what needs to be done.

He closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment. Then he opened them again. Follow me, he said quietly.

Where are you going? asked Whittaker.

Just follow me.

Whittaker walked after Gregor down the corridor. After a few minutes they came upon a large chamber. On the ground at one end of the room were several large rocks piled together. At the other end was another pile of boulders. There were also three torches lying on the floor. Gregor walked over to the pile and picked up one of the torches. He handed it to Whittaker and pointed at the boulder closest to them.

I don't understand, said Whittaker. How will we get past that?

Gregor nodded. I know. He pointed at the torch in Whittaker's hand. Take that torch and place it between the two boulders that are stacked together.

Whittaker did as he was told, putting the torch between the two large stones. The flame burned brightly. Then he took the other torch from Gregor and did the same thing.

As soon as he had finished, all four torches began to move along the walls of the cave towards the centre where the birds were. They moved slowly but steadily, lighting each area up. The rock floor became visible under the light from the torches. The two large stones fell apart and slid to one side. The smaller stones rolled down from beneath them. Soon everything was revealed before them. In the centre stood a large crystal formation shaped like a hexagon with a large hole in the middle. The torchlight shone directly on it, making it glow brilliantly. The crystal looked like nothing that Whittaker had ever seen before. It almost looked alive or perhaps like a creature of some kind. The crystals that were scattered around in various parts of the cavern glittered with the light of the torches.

Gregor put the second torch on the ground and walked over to Whittaker.

Now, he said calmly, you must focus on the bird that you want to tame. Concentrate on it and imagine it coming down to the cavern where you are. See yourself talking to it.

Whittaker tried to think about the bird, imagining it flying down to their position. But the more he concentrated, the harder it was to think clearly. All sorts of strange images flashed across his vision. Some things he recognised; some he didn't. For example, there seemed to be some sort of building nearby that reminded him of a church. He also sensed a person sitting on the stairs next to the entrance. This made him uneasy and uncomfortable. He wanted to look away but something was holding his attention. He couldn't shake off this feeling that he was being watched by someone or something.

Suddenly a figure stepped out from behind him. He turned round quickly. He saw a man dressed in black robes, who smiled at him.

Hello, said the man in a soft voice.

Who... Who are you? whispered Whittaker in fright.

The man looked at him kindly. My name is Kargan Magrane. My friends call me The Watcher. He gestured with his hand in the air behind him. Come. We should speak in private.

Whittaker followed him into another corridor and went down a flight of stairs. As they descended, they entered a vast hall. The room was filled with people standing around a long table that ran along its length. Each person had been given a bowl filled with food. Everyone was eating, talking and laughing loudly. Whittaker saw that he was in a large dining hall. The people in the room looked human but he noticed that they had large bat-like wings protruding from their backs. These creatures flew up onto the walls above the table and ate from the bowls that were suspended there. There were also large birds that swooped down onto the table and snatched up whatever pieces of meat were left in the bowls.

Whittaker walked up to one of these creatures. Its body was covered in grey feathers and it had two small horns sticking out of its head. Two short tails dangled below it. It was picking up a piece of meat and swallowing it whole, without chewing it. Its beak was lined with sharp teeth. On either side of it lay several other dead rats.

The Watcher led him further into the cavern. At the far end of the great chamber, there was a throne-like chair. From the back of the chair rose a tall, dark figure, who was sitting with crossed legs. This man had an impressive beard. Whittaker couldn't take his eyes off it for fear that he might lose sight of it.

As he approached the throne, he noticed a strange looking man standing by one of the walls near to him. The man appeared to have no eyes, only white, glowing spots floating in space before him. He was staring intently at Whittaker. The Watcher pointed him out and Whittaker saw that the stranger was watching him closely through the eye holes in the top half of his black robes.

The Watcher introduced him to the dark figure, saying that it was The Watchers.

The man smiled at Whittaker, showing very little emotion but then he spoke quietly. You are not yet ready, he said quietly.

Whittaker looked at him questioningly.

The man's face suddenly twisted into an expression of anger. He stood up and walked towards them.

Kargan Magrane put a hand on Whittaker's shoulder and stopped him walking any further. The man who was called The Watchers stared at him for a while and then sat back down again. He gestured in the air with his finger. I see your heart is pure, he said.

He then addressed the dark figure, saying that he could not go ahead with this plan because it was too dangerous. Whittaker felt as if his stomach had been turned upside down. He didn't know whether to turn around and run or stay where he was and try to understand what was happening. He didn't feel safe anywhere.

The Watchers nodded. We agree with you, he said to them.

You can't stop us, said The Watchers. But please do not make it worse for him. He indicated Whittaker.

They both looked at Whittaker and smiled at each other. They then both got up from their seats and walked to the front of the throne. The Watcher said something that made the dark figure laugh loudly. Then he turned and faced Whittaker. He raised his right hand and held it flat before him. A ball of light appeared in his palm. Whittaker felt dizzy and sick with fear. But still he stayed where he was. The Watchers spoke again in unison, and the light ball started moving towards Whittaker.

He tried to move away from the Watchers but Kargan Magrane held his arm firmly so he couldn't get out of their way. When the ball of light reached him, it passed harmlessly over his shoulders and fell to the ground behind him.

It bounced up into the air and started to glow brightly. Then it shot forward at the Watchers, catching them both by surprise. Both were caught in the blast. Their clothes burst into flames and they screamed in pain. They dropped to the floor and rolled frantically in order to put out the fire burning their clothes. When the fire started to die down, they jumped back up and tried to extinguish it with their hands. They finally succeeded when Whittaker kicked it out of the way.

Whittaker backed away and watched them as they struggled to recover from the effects of the spell.

Then he ran to a small hole in the wall and disappeared inside it. He crawled under the tunnel. There he crouched down and waited until all three of his companions came along after him. They looked at him, concerned. He told them what had happened but he knew they wouldn't understand unless he described it in more detail. He did just that and they listened carefully to everything he had to say. Finally, he explained to them about the Watchers and how dangerous they were.

When they had understood what had happened, they went outside to talk with the Watchers. The two who were badly burnt were taken to a cave nearby to recover. One of the Watchers took Kargan and Gregor aside. While they were talking with the man, the other one talked with Whittaker.

At first, they seemed friendly enough. He asked Whittaker some questions about himself, making him feel uncomfortable about answering honestly. But then he became angry with him when he refused to reveal his true identity. He accused him of being afraid of them and trying to hide. This made him angry. He thought that perhaps they suspected that he was the person they were really after and they wanted information on him. At this point, he realised that he was dealing with people who had no honour whatsoever and he found this repulsive. He tried to convince them to leave him alone but they insisted that he reveal who he truly was and why he was there.

He told them his real name. His true name was Whittaker the Blacksmith and he lived in the village of Stagford. He was born in a small farm house on the outskirts of the town and grew up working with his father in a blacksmiths workshop. He had no family left now apart from an older brother named Thomas. He worked at the shop for many years and learned how to work with steel. As he got older he began to take over the running of the place and soon became known for his skill in crafting items from iron. He never married nor had children of his own although he helped raise Thomas's two young sons from a previous marriage. He had always been loyal to his friends in the village and had done whatever he could to help them whenever they needed anything. In return, they had helped him through difficult times and he would do the same for anyone else who required assistance.

The Watchers laughed loudly and told him that he sounded like a decent fellow. Whittaker didn't want to believe what they were telling him, even though he saw the hatred in their eyes. He knew that it was not possible for them to be normal human beings. He had to be wrong somehow. He was sure that there was another explanation. Perhaps there was someone else involved who was using the Watchers for their own purposes. He just hadn't come across him or her yet. But then he remembered the strange things that he had seen earlier. He wondered if maybe those were his enemies too and the Watchers were helping him locate them. But he was sure that wasn't the case because he had already located them. Now he had to find out who they were. If he didn't, then the world might end because of it. That was something that he couldn't allow to happen.

Whittaker was about to ask the Watcher why they hated him so much but stopped when he heard them speaking to the other man again. They told him that they intended to kill him and his companions if he didn't reveal who he really was and why he was there. They said that they would torture him first in order to get the truth out of him before they killed him. Whittaker told them that they would regret doing that as he had powers that they couldn't understand. Then they could see the power of the Blacksmith for themselves. The Watchers looked at each other and laughed. They told him that they'd see if he could actually back up his claims once they finished torturing him and his companions.

When Gregor and Kargan returned to the cave, they looked shocked at what they saw. Whittaker had been tied up with his hands behind his back and his feet tied together. They were all very angry with him because he had refused to tell them who he was. But they decided not to say anything until later.

Gregor had been listening in on their conversation while the Watchers were asking questions about Whittaker. When they told him that they were going to torture him and his friends, he lost control and started attacking them with his axe. The Watchers quickly ran away, screaming that they were leaving and that they wouldn't ever return.

Gregor and Kargan dragged Whittaker into the cave and sat him down against the wall where he was safe. They untied his feet and legs and then untied him from around his wrists. They put their weapons away in a box and placed it in one corner of the cave next to a large stone table. Then they removed the rope gag from his mouth and gave him water which he drank gratefully.

They asked him what had happened and told him about their encounter with the Watchers. After hearing them tell him about what had happened, he was still confused. There didn't seem to be any way that the Watchers could have recognised him from the descriptions that he gave them. So why did they threaten him? It didn't make any sense. He was convinced that they knew who he really was but he wanted to know how they came across that information. Whittaker told Gregor and Kargan that he had to leave in order to discover the answer to that question and that he would be back later in the afternoon. Then he turned round and walked out of the cave and made his way along a rocky path that led away from the valley towards the village.

Whittaker travelled alone for a few hours and then came across a small river. He crossed over a small wooden bridge that went over the river and then continued walking along a narrow path in front of a forest that surrounded both sides of the road. As he walked further, he could see some buildings ahead in the distance. They looked familiar because they reminded him of the houses where he grew up many years ago. He was excited at the prospect of returning home after so long but also nervous because he knew that it was probably dangerous.

After walking past several other paths leading off into different directions, Whittaker arrived at a small house near the edge of town. There were two people sitting outside on the doorstep talking. As soon as he saw them, he felt a rush of happiness inside. The couple were his parents; they were sitting side by side and looked happy together. He walked over to them and hugged them both. The three of them then stood there hugging each other. His mother kept patting his hair and telling him to stop crying because she thought he was making himself ill. She didn't believe that his tears were real and she couldn't understand why he was acting like this. However, his father did understand and he told her that he'd explain everything later. They all sat down and ate dinner together before they went inside his house to talk.

His mother told him to sit in a comfortable chair whilst she poured him a drink. He accepted the drink but he didn't touch the food because he didn't feel hungry. Then his father began explaining what had happened since the last time he saw them. He told Whittaker about the day that the blacksmith had come to visit his house. The blacksmith had been complaining about the villagers and he mentioned how he had seen some people from Whittaker's village. Then he added that if Whittaker wasn't a good person, the blacksmith would kill him too. After that, the blacksmith left the house and he never returned again. He was worried that Whittaker might be upset because of something that he said. But instead of worrying, Whittaker laughed and reassured his dad that he was okay. He then told him that he was leaving and he would be back later in the afternoon. At first, his parents were shocked when he told them that but then they understood what he was saying. Their son had decided to go on an adventure and they were proud of him. His mother told him that she hoped that he wouldn't be gone for long and that she missed him very much.

She then explained to Whittaker how they had received the letter from his sister telling them about what he had done. They had read it together and they were extremely shocked when they saw how brave their son was. They knew that Whittaker had always enjoyed playing soldiers and imagining stories about what he would do if he ever got the chance. That was why they encouraged him to play more with his friends rather than stay in the house. Now they realised just how dangerous it could have been. However, they believed that there must be some truth in what they had heard because their son had done such a wonderful thing.

His mother and father told him that his friends and family would be waiting for him when he returned. Then his mother told him that she would look after his dog until he came back. They all sat around and drank wine together and talked about all sorts of things before they finally fell asleep. In the morning, they woke up early to start packing his bags before he set off on his journey.

As soon as he left his village, Whittaker felt happier than he could remember. He hadn't seen much of the world yet but he was ready for whatever challenges he would face along the way. After passing through a small woodland area, he found a large hill that looked interesting. It seemed to contain an entire forest within its grounds and the top of the hill was covered in snow. He walked towards the hill and stopped to take a rest. Looking upwards, he could see the sky and he could see the sun shining brightly above him. He wondered what he should do next and then decided to continue walking along the path in front of him. The hill seemed like a place worth exploring because there was so much greenery and wildlife living in it. He wanted to find out what else was in store for him on his travels. So he continued walking forward, looking at the ground below him as he went.

Soon enough, he started to climb up the hill until he reached the top. Standing there, Whittaker gazed across the horizon and watched the landscape pass by. He was surprised that no one was there except for himself. He looked into the distance and he could see many mountains and hills in front of him. He turned his gaze back down to where he was standing and he noticed that there was another smaller hill right in front of him. Curious, Whittaker decided to walk over to it and investigate. After climbing up, he saw that this other hill was just as big as the original one he had climbed. It had several trees growing all over it and he decided to explore further.

He made his way through the woods until he came across a strange creature sitting under a tree. At first, Whittaker thought it was a bird or a squirrel. He walked towards it slowly, not wanting to scare it away. As he approached it, the creature lifted its head and stared directly at him. It was a huge dragon! He had never seen anything like it before and he became terrified because he couldn't believe his eyes. He backed away slowly while the dragon watched him curiously. Whittaker could tell that the creature was curious about him because it moved closer and then stopped. Then it raised its wings and stood up on its hind legs, making a loud roar. Then it spread its wings out wide and flapped them. This caused great waves of air to pass over the young man and he felt scared once again. However, the dragon didn't make any attempts to attack him.

Whittaker quickly ran away and he soon found himself standing near the edge of the woods. He could hear the sound of the dragon's wings beating in the distance but he could no longer see it. He glanced behind him and saw the same tree that he had spotted the creature beneath earlier. He walked towards it, hoping that it would be safer to go back the way he came. But, just as he arrived, the dragon flew overhead, roaring loudly. It swooped down and landed in front of the young man who immediately froze with fear. Once it landed, the dragon spread its wings and lowered its neck down towards him. Whittaker tried to run away but, before he could get far, it opened its mouth wide and breathed fire. The flames hit the ground just feet away from Whittaker and he screamed and fell backwards. He rolled across the grassland and he felt hot liquid running down his leg. There was smoke coming from his clothes and he could smell burning flesh.

Whittaker looked at the ground in shock. All around him were scorch marks and melted pieces of wood. His trousers were completely burned away and his skin was burnt underneath. He got up slowly and limped towards the nearby river. He washed the burns on his leg and took a deep breath before standing upright again. He then realised something important about himself. He wasn't afraid anymore. He didn't feel the slightest bit of anxiety or fright when faced with such danger. Instead, he felt excitement and curiosity because he knew that if anyone else had been in his place, they would have been terrified beyond belief.

Whittaker walked away from the dragon and continued towards the hillside until he found a rock formation that was very unusual. Its shape reminded him of a human face. He stared at it in wonder because it was unlike any other thing he had ever seen. When he finally reached the top, he was greeted by a huge crater-like structure, surrounded by rocks and vegetation. As he approached, he realised that it resembled a cave entrance. He walked inside and saw a small stream of water flowing through it. He followed it upstream and eventually came to a large opening, which led into a dark tunnel. He stepped through the hole and began to explore.

It was a long walk before Whittaker came across what seemed to be an altar. On its surface was a pile of bones with fresh cuts along their lengths. There were also several wooden staves lying in different areas around the room. Whittaker approached them carefully and picked one up from the floor. He inspected it for any damage, but there were none. He placed the stick on his shoulder and carried it with him.

After walking for a while, he came across another stone wall. However, this time, it had writing carved into it. It was hard to read due to the weathering process and the poor lighting conditions, but he could make out parts of the script. It looked similar to the old runes found in his book. He was amazed by how many languages were used throughout these lands and he wondered where all the people had gone.

He spent hours examining the inscriptions without understanding most of it. He only managed to decipher one word; 'Nagash' which meant 'death'. He had heard that name before. He remembered reading something about it in his spellbook, which had told him that Nagash was responsible for bringing death to the world and destroying everyone. He also recalled that he hadn't been able to understand the words spoken by the sorcerer, so he assumed that they must be written in a different language.

Whittaker thought that if he was going to find the answer, he needed to go deeper into the caves. So, after much deliberation, he decided to climb down and keep walking until he found someone. However, after he descended into the darkness and began moving further underground, he noticed strange things. For starters, the light from his staff disappeared. The reason for that became apparent when he reached an area that was illuminated by a glowing object. The young wizard stared at it in awe because it looked like a huge crystal ball, except it was made from a metal substance. He walked over towards it and examined it further.

He couldn't work out what it was or how it worked. All he could do was hold it in his hands and look at it in amazement.

Suddenly, he felt someone's presence close to him. It was almost impossible to see anything in the pitch-black darkness, but he could tell that it was definitely a person. Whittaker was terrified but knew that if he ran away, he would lose his chance to understand what was happening. So instead, he stood his ground and waited for whoever was there to speak to him.

"What are