A boom resounded across the blue shadow forests of Turkoosi. In the palace, a Kleanna phoenix was seated on his throne, reclining, when he was awoken by the screams of his people. He instantly snapped awake, and grabbed his staff made out of gnarled ivory. To his shock, the beautiful lavender skies turned into a blackish-reddish color. He could hear the screams resound from all over the planet.
“Help me!” the king heard his wife scream as a massive fireball surrounded her and his children. In a few moments, the fireball would swallow his wife and she would disappear from his sight forever. The king cast a repelling fireball spell, but it was no use. The magic used was far too strong, and Wyyar could only look on helplessly as his wife and children were engulfed by the dark orange flames. He could not bear to look, and could not believe who would do such a thing. What had he done as a ruler that had made the phoenixes so angry?
Then, he realized that only one of the most powerful and darkest of all phoenix races could have such energy and strength to attack a planet. Wyyar closed his eyes as he remembered a dark flame phoenix along with his followers who had been the enemies of the Guardians of Light. Supposedly, the war had concluded when the Guardians of Light along with many other of their allies took the sea kingdom, the wave kingdom, and the jewel kingdoms from the occupation of the Dark Flames. Wyyar had sided with Fenghuang, Draak and Jalokivi against the Dark Flames. The Dark Flames had offered him the conquest of many more planets in the Jewel System if he joined them. Of course, Wyyar had refused and for good reason, but now his planet and his race would face extinction. With great regret, he knew he would have to leave, as the last survivor and the last Kleanna phoenix of a once magnificent planet, Turkoosi…
####
A decade had passed, and Wyyar still had not found a suitable planet. He had gone deeper into the Jewel System, partly to evade the Dark Flames and to have some sense of safety in his travels. He had scanned over a hundred, and most of them were either too hot or too cold, or recently burst from the mystical energy of Voima. Wyyar did not have a particular fondness for planets that were entirely submerged underwater, and disliked those that were made of fire, because the Dark Flames originated from such a planet. He was about to give up and accept his fate, when he discovered a planet filled with water. The Kleanna phoenix noticed that the planet was uninhabited, and all he could see were fish and sharks swimming, as well as grotesque urchins, turtles, and scorpions.
I can transform this planet, the king told himself. He reached for one of the scrolls he had brought along with him. These scrolls would help him change the landscape and the structure of the planet forever. Wyyar was trained as a young prince in the Academy of Wandstream which was considered one of the most prestigious schools in Fayspell. He could speak and understand over two hundred spiritual and magix languages. The language on the scrolls was a rare kind, named Pyhä Henki. He gazed at the script, and closed his eyes. With great meditation and the opening of the mind, Wyyar was able to enter a dimension where the planet was in front of him. The planet Wyyar was currently on was a reddish rocky planet with mountains, craters, and erupting volcanoes all over. The phoenix grabbed his gnarled ivory staff with both golden claws and pointed the magical weapon directly at the oceanic planet that would soon change forever. “Kaló_ tous papýrous ti_s Turkoosi, na metatrépsoun af_tó ton planí_ti_ o_keanó plásmata tou neroú , kai na katastí_sei af_tó to méros katoikí_simi_ , na metatrépsei af_tón ton planí_ti_ tou neroú se éna planí_ti_ ti_s omorfiás ti_s galazoprásina .” Wyyar noticed a great change take place. He could hear the planet rock in spasms, and whispered a spell that protected him from the effects. When he opened his eyes, the ocean dominated planet was no more.
It was then that Wyyar decided that it was time to leave the red, rocky planet. With his ivory staff, he constructed a portal using a variety of spells. Unfortunately, the portal would not take him there, because it was not recognized as a planet of Fayspell. Wyyar knew he had to also designate a name, but first he had to change his identity. Despite the fact, that he was in the Unknown Regions and in the farthest regions of the Jewel System, he knew that one day he would eventually be discovered. I must change my identity. I will no longer be a Kleanna phoenix. In sense, the race of Kleannans has died off. Since my planet will have large reserves of aquamarine, it would be wise to transform into an aquamarine phoenix of a royal race, known as Feathyrkin Veeku.
Wyyar flipped through the scrolls to find a spell that would change his identity. This spell was yet again in Pyhä Henki. The Kleanna phoenix, the last of his race would now be no more. He would abandon his name as the ally of Guardians of Light, and of the king of Turkoosi. To the rest of Fayspell, he would be a dead soul, and only he would know who he was. “Esý tha théleis na enkataleípsei tó_ra ti_ fylí_ mou mias Kleanna. Tó_ra tha metatrépsei gia to ypóloipo ti_s zo_í_s mou pou zoun se éna Feathyrkin Veeku, ti_s vasilikí_s fylí_s tou agó_na tou foínikes galazoprásina!” the phoenix yelled to the reddish skies. Wyyar had transformed into a handsome light blue phoenix with adorning jewels and robes. He also had silver claws, and sharp amber eyes. The king was truly different, and changed his name to Katarn. He will now forever be known by this name.
####
Katarn relished in the beauty of his creation. He had named the planet, Akvamariini and decided to form a family here. The Feathyrkin Veeku flew around the planet, taking sights of a vivacious waterfall as well as beautifully carved Silva and Bilx trees. Ivory carvings were prevalent all over the planet, and the ocean had diminished in size. Katarn had decided not to get rid of the ocean, because he wanted his descendants to have some landscape to take pride in, the rolling hills, fountains of nature, etc... It was far too perfect to be true.
He was tired and exhausted, his magical supply nearly gone. He could not cast another spell from the scrolls or he would fall from great exhaustion to his death. Pyhä Henki was far too consuming for his energy. With his remaining strength, Katarn formed a portal map which told him of the neighboring planets around Akvamariini. One of them caught his attention, a blue planet whose name was Treireill. Right, off we go to Treireill. Katarn with one silver claw tapped on the holographic image, and a portal formed. He flew into it just as it closed.
####
Treireill was a blue planet, a planet known for its architecture. It was covered in all sorts of different species of buildings. Katarn hypothesized that the phoenixes that lived here were mostly wizard architects that used spells for building and creating. The Feathyrkin Veeku was looking for a palace, but there was none. He flew, seemingly for a long time when he nearly crashed into a phoenix. The two stared at each other, and neither spoke until the other one did. “It is quite a pleasure to meet you”, the female phoenix ruffled her robes. “My name is Rhatlina III from the House of Asir. Our family has been architect wizards for many generations. As to introduce my species, I am a zircon phoenix.”
Katarn nodded, and thought up of an introduction quickly. From what she looked like, wearing silk robes and fine lace, he knew she served the high class. He had to impress her. “My name is Katarn and I am a lord wizard from Wandstream. I am a Feathyrkin Veeku of noble hatch, and I have found a planet which I molded into a beautiful landscape. I wish for someone to build my estate, and any other architectural features I desire. I myself am fluent in thirteen languages, the most notable one being Pyhä Henki. I fought with the Guardians of Light against the evil and treacherous Dark Flames, and I have retired just recently.” He gazed at her. “You are beautiful for an architect wizard of zircon.”
Rhatlina blushed. “I am flattered.” She weaved around him, and Katarn could not help but wonder if she was attempting to flirt with him. “You will come right?” he asked.
“Definitely”, the zircon phoenix agreed as she tried to hook wings with Katarn. The Feathyrkin Veeku frowned as they entered the portal back to Akvamariini together.
####
When they finally emerged from the portal to Akvamariini, Rhatlina and Katarn slumped onto the ground, exhausted. “I need you to get me a fish”, the zircon phoenix sighed as she lied on the soft grass looking up at the clouds. “Akvamariini is lush and rich in its features and landscapes, so I would like for you to catch me a fish.”
“No problem”, Katarn arose from his landing. He was about to cast a summoning spell when Rhatlina slapped his wings. He howled in pain. “What on earth did you do that for?”
Her sharp dark brown eyes looked into his amber eyes directly. “I gave you explicit instructions to catch me a fish. That means you are not to use any magical spells which includes summoning spells. This will be a suitable test for you, and I do not wish for future generations living on this wonderful planet to exploit its natural resources until it is completely barren.” Katarn nodded, and without delay swam over to the ocean of Akvamariini. He thought of casting a spell, but could sense that Rhatlina was watching him, closely.
This will prove to be difficult. It is not the most expedient way to get food, but that is what I must do, to prove myself capable of being a smart and intelligent phoenix in all scenarios. The Feathyrkin Veeku extended a claw into the water, and jumped just as a marine mammal jumped out and back into the waters. Katarn felt embarrassed at not being able to do such a simple task. He hated the idea of jumping into the water, but that was his only choice available. He stripped off his robes and dived headlong where he saw a variety of sea life. He saw sharks, dolphins, and most of all golden fish. He pounced deliberately on one of them, and with some effort was able to pull one out. The golden fish writhed and the aquamarine phoenix gave one sharp peck to its head, and it was still. He brought the fish back to Rhatlina who looked impressed.
“I have to say that you are very smart and skilled in things that are not related to magic”, she commented. Katarn lowered his head, and blushed. “Thanks for the compliment.” Rhatlina nodded at him before she sank one claw into the flesh of the golden fish. She popped it into her beak and swallowed it. “How does it taste?” Katarn inquired.
“Marvelous”, the zircon phoenix’s eyes were closed in bliss. “This fish has magic-infused powers which helped bring my strength back.” Katarn slashed the fish in half, and into even smaller pieces, until he had diced it into a thousand different pieces. He ate them hungrily, and was careful to leave most of the portions for Rhatlina. Once they had finished consuming the fish, the two went to work. While Rhatlina was pondering the landscape of Akvamariini, Katarn was designing a holographic blueprint with the spells from the Turkoosi scrolls. He desired for each building to be made up of entirely aquamarine. He finished the blueprint rather hastily, and showed his plans to Rhatlina. She looked at him in great shock.
“This will cost at least ten thousand mystical dollars, one hundred amber soverigns, ten blue exarchies, and five emerald imperials!” the architect exclaimed. “Are you positive you have that amount of money?” Katarn frowned as he always did when he thought. That amount of money could allow him to buy over a dozen planets not to mention probably a fifth of the Jalokivi System. It could also render him bankrupt, and the Feathyrkin Veeku did not want to have to deal with entailments with the Fayspell Association of Currency and Monetary Funds.
The Veeku turned to look at Rhatlina. “We can use magic together and build the estate, the towers, and the orb to store the aquamarine. You don’t have to construct this all by yourself. Could you possibly reduce the price by a large fraction?” Katarn knew that his bargain would most likely fail, but to his surprise, she consented. The final price she granted him was nine hundred mystical dollars and fifty amber soverigns. “Let us get to work immediately”, Rhatlina advised. “First, we must bring out the aquamarine hidden in reserves all around this planet. Could you loan me the Turkoosi Scrolls?” Katarn rummaged in his robes, and handed her the fragile parchments.
Rhatlina of Asir scanned the parchments for a spell that would release minerals from their hiding spots or reserves. “I got one”, Rhatlina told Katarn excitedly. “The only problem is that I don’t know how to speak or pronounce the intricate language of Pyhä Henki yet I recognize the pattern of the hieroglyphics.” She handed the scrolls back to Katarn, and flew to a nearby stone. “Could you please cast the spell?”
The Feathyrkin Veeku balanced on a polished silver stone, and went into a meditative stance with his eyes closed. He wanted to try a new method of calling spells, rather than saying them out loud for everyone to hear, he would form the spells in his mind. Katarn concentrated hard, and blocked out every distraction from around him. He pronounced the enchantment spell in his mind: O planí_ti_s to_n galazoprásina, akoúme kai prosochí_ to aíti_má mou. Anoíxte apothémata sas kai afí_ste to galazoprásino mésa. “It is working!” he heard Rhatlina shout. Katarn could feel the essence of the aquamarine nearby, and released his spell when he sensed that all of it was completely withdrawn. When he opened his amber eyes, the phoenix saw a huge pile of aquamarine stacked all around him and Rhatlina. The spells had exhausted Katarn’s magical energy. He slumped to the ground…
####
Katarn went into a deep sleep, and could sense a faint trace of Voima near him. He was slowly replenishing his energy reserves which had gone dangerously low. He was what the Other World would have called a coma. With the loss of his strength, Katarn was unable to maintain his form as a Feathyrkin Veeku. He was forced to transform back into a Kleanna phoenix, but before he fell asleep, he pulled himself away from Rhatlina’s sight. Now, he could tell that she was building his planet. She was furnishing his island with buildings of aquamarine, and fortunately for him, the zircon phoenix was many miles away from where Katarn was.
I must transform back as soon as possible! Rhatlina will find me sooner or later, and I do not want to be seen as Wyyar, the wise and former king of Turkoosi and ally of the Guardians of Light. I want her to see me as Katarn, a Feathyrkin Veeku and a noble wizard from Wandstream who is not of royalty. The Kleanna snapped out of his drowsiness, and in his mind, conducted a spell that would change his form back into that of a Feathyrkin Veeku. The spell did not work. Kleanna attempted again, but the spell would not change him. Katarn could sense that Rhatlina was closer; her Voima indicated that was so. The Feathyrkin Veeku was growing desperate by the minute. If she saw him, this would alert the Dark Flames that the king was still alive, and it could jeopardize the safety of him and Rhatlina as well as the planet. “Katarn?” Wyyar could hear her wing flutters, and her anxious cry. “Are you all right?” She landed just a few feet from where he was. The Kleanna phoenix’s heartbeat stopped. In no time, she would discover where he was. The zircon phoenix was turning over rocks as she trekked.
Just as Katarn was about to lose hope for himself, he suddenly transformed back to the form that he had always desired to be: a Feathyrkin Veeku. He emerged from the rocks and faced Rhatlina III of Asir. “Where have you been?” the zircon phoenix demanded. She touched Katarn lightly with her wing. “While you were in your lazy trance, I forged all the buildings. I want you to look.”
####
Katarn followed Rhatlina halfway around Akvamariini. The trip was relatively short since they rode on a magical two-dimensional plane created by the Feathyrkin Veeku. Finally, they landed on an island, in the center of Akvamariini and also in the center of the Akvamariini Ocean. Katarn’s eyes widened when he saw his magnificent Katarn Estate with columns made out of aquamarine. Next to the estate was a swirling, exquisite orb containing the powerful jewel aquamarine. The Feathyrkin Veeku and the genius zircon landed on one of the terraces of the Bilx and Silva trees. The aquamarine towers were carved around and over the sturdy white and beige trees. Katarn was awed by the spectacular scenery, and bowed before Rhatlina in a gesture of respect in which he would win her approval. He took out nine hundred mystical dollars and fifty amber soverigns. The Feathyrkin Veeku handed the money personally to Rhatlina who took it with happiness. “Thanks.”
“No”, a new feeling emerged in Katarn’s heart. He was beginning to have feelings for the zircon phoenix. “I have to thank you for what you have done.” He put a comforting wing around the female architect wizard. “You can stay if you wish.”
Rhatlina stared at him. “I apologize Katarn, but I can’t stay here. I will visit sometime though.” She gazed around the island and its bountiful nature. “I have to admit when I first arrived here, I dubbed this place the ‘Silent Island’, and that is what I will tell the others. May Voima be with you, Katarn, and I hope to see you sometime soon.”