The Chronicles of the Black Crystal. Vol: 1: Andrew River
Chapter 20: More Magic with the Spirits

“Master, how many spells are from this language?” I asked

“There are so many, they are countless. New ones are being executed every day. Therefore, it is hard to study such a language. Followers of a language have study delinquently in this art form. If a person replaces a new characteristic they will make a spell. Enchanters have been sharing their spells within the group of people who are performing such an incantation. Such enchanters are healers. They must mediate on this language and the properties of this language to retrieve more knowledge to help others. Even if they are persecuted. They love the path that they are destined for, and nothing can stop them.”

“If a new spell is being executed every day, how are they then writing them down and sharing them so fast to other conjurers?”

“That’s the problem. Most enchanters use the well-known spells at first. Then they too will meditate to experiment with new spells. However, the difference with you and them is me. I know when new spells are being executed and if they work properly. And I will share them with you in due time. My presence is connected not just to you, but to every language that encircles the magic with in everything.”

“Please teach me more Master.”

“Very well, but you need to know the difference of what each family of languages feels like. So, you can distinguish between the two. The language of Nature is pure and light. As you conjure such a language you might have felt normal, as if it was a part of you. Compared that to this new language. The language of the Darkness. Most likely you will feel an emotion of hatred and anger and you do not know why. And most of the followers of the Darkness lust for those emotions to drive them, to continue their art. Once you lust for that power you will try and quench your thirst, by any means possible. You however, must understand these properties and observe how they make you feel. Thus, you can distinguish them between the two. And have a proper balance with them.”

“Was this always my destiny, to this balance? Or was it your idea?”

“Your destiny is intertwined with me, and I am intertwined with the world of Magic. Thus, the answer to your question is a yes. When David created me, he opened your destiny and the future generation of the world. This was never my idea, but the idea of Magic. You have started this path ever since you met David and Jim so many years ago. You must accept this road that you and I and the presence of Magic is going down. Once you accept this, the journey will become a whole lot smoother, than what it is now. Yes, I do agree that there will be times of chaos and anguish but you will go through those flames with a new-found strength than ever before.”

“I do not think I am ready for all of this. I do not think I can handle the weight of the world on my shoulders. You say I can, I cannot see it though. How am I going to accept this if I cannot accept myself? That I will achieve marvelous things with these powers of mine. I cannot defeat Dylan, and bring balance to Magic.”

“Andrew look hard into your soul. Tell me what you see.”

“I see nothing.”

“You are not looking, you are just hoping you notice nothing. Let us do this exercise I want you to mediate on the Light and Darkness of this world. After you communicate with them, tell me how they make you feel. And if you have any power over them. You are the balance that this world needs. You just have to accept it.”

“How can I communicate to the Light and the Darkness?”

“Relax and kneel. Become one with your surroundings. Talk with Nature, notice how you feel when you are communing with her. Once you finish, commune with the Darkness. Do not listen to him, only notice the emotions that will come into play. Once then, relive those emotions. And when you conjure such spells of both families you will be able to notice the difference of which side they came from. Are you ready?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Very good, let us begin.”

The floor of the ground rested on the bottom of my knees. I laid my hands on my legs, and became very comfortable. In a calm state of mind. I opened my eyes. All around me there was quietness. But inside the evil trees there had been a flow of energy. Traveling to each tree. Making sure each tree was still alive. This energy left a remnant of glowing pure energy behind. But it soon wisped away in the breeze. I followed this energy to each new tree. It entered one tree than existed out of a different tree. It could have been the next tree or many trees ahead. Once or twice the energy noticed I had been following it. Soon it sprinted away from me. Trying to get away from this stranger. I chased it, sometimes I lost it, but once I followed the trail that it left behind it had been easy to track it. Before it could have disappeared into a new tree, I shouted to it.

“Wait! Don’t disappear I want to talk to you. Who are you?”

“Why do you want to know?” As it disappeared into a tree.

“I am looking for someone or something.”

“And who is this thing you are looking for. I do think you do not even know. You weren’t very descriptive.” It had not come out of the trees, but it had been speaking to me inside the safety of the trees themselves. This thing had been weary of me. However, I wasn’t with it. It was curious and pure. It was something that you never wanted to let go.

“I do not know. My Master told me to mediate on the Light and Darkness of this world. And speak with them. This exercise will help me to tell the difference of each emotion I have with them.”

“And who is your Master? He is very wise. Maybe I know him, I have been on this planet for a while now, and I have seen many things. Tell me who he is. What is his name?”

“He does not have a name, and he is not a person either. He is a thing. He has connections with everything that deals with magic. Most people refer to him as the Black Crystal. But I think that name is to subtle. He is much more than that.”

“Do you talk with It daily?” She said out of confusion.

“Almost every minute. We have very good and honest discussions on the Magic in this world. And how I can use it properly.”

“What does It see with in you, to have that connection with It?”

“I am destined with It, my path intertwines with It. I cannot explain It furthermore.”

“It has been awhile since a saw a human.” The presences voice had been protruding right behind me. I turned quickly and noticed a nymph of majestic beauty. Her presence shown like the brightness of a star in the heavens. In her eyes, there had been wisdom through many wonderings on this Earth that she had experience. She had been dressed head to toe in a modest outfit that complemented her greatly. On her head was a white diamond diadem that wrapped around her temple. Her piercing eyes were energetic, with power of light. Her hands wore chained jewelry that laced on the skin. Her feet had been bare. But she had the appearance that she had been hovering above the ground. As she entered your surrounding she let you feel safe and protected.

“What did you say?” Her beauty caught me off guard.

“It has been a long time that I saw a human. Most of the time they have mediated into a deep trance that they meet me. But they only see a glimpse of me. I do not show them my true self.”

“Are you showing your true self to me?”

“Not exactly, but I am close enough.”

“What is your name?”

“What a particular question. My name is Melk. I am the Spirit Nymph of the Light. And what is yours, he who commune with It?”

“My name is Andrew. Andrew River.”

“Such a short name for a great human.”

“What do you mean?”

“You commune with the most powerful thing in this world. And It talks with you, you must be a great human. No man will have a greatest quest as yourself not to be called a great man.”

“You know what I must do then?”

“Yes, we know. They were rumors of course. But rumors had to come out somewhere.”

“You mentioned ‘we’?”

“Yes, I did. If I heard the rumors, then so did the Darkness.” Fear crept inside me. The Darkness knows that his time is almost done. And that is what is frightening to me. Melk continued, “I feel your anxiety, do not worry or be afraid. He has been more afraid of you than you are of him. For light always wins. For a season, there has been no room for me. And I know you can concur Dylan. I trust you. You can do all this with faith in yourself. Remember that young Andrew.” My fear had been swept away to a new place. Now encouragement replaced the fear and anxiety from her words.

“Thank you, Melk. You have encouraged me.”

“It is want I do.”

“Melk I have a question.”

“Yes, Andrew. What is this question?”

“How do I go and locate the Darkness?”

“You just have to call his name?” She said this with sadness.

“What do you mean?”

“He is a traveler of the entire world. Especially now, because he rules it. Once you call to him he will come. Like when you want to speak to me, you must call unto me. You are lucky that you found me here.”

“What is his name?”

“Only a hand full of humans know his name. And they are his devoted followers. Dylan is one of them.”

“Please tell me.” I pleaded.

“His name is Nephan.”

“Nephan?”

“Yes.” A dark rumble voice spoke behind me. Melk’s eyes widened, with an almost compassionate vengeance look. I turned slowly to noticed a man wearing a black robe with a hood. His piercing crimson eyes glowed underneath his hood. I could not tell his age. His long boney fingers were folded in front of him. “And who are you human? Are you lost?”, he started to walk towards to our company, “What is your name young human?”

“Andrew River.” His eyes widened to show for a split-second fear exiting his eyes. Then that fear vanished.

“You do not look like much to me? You are supposed to defeat Dylan?” And he laughed. He walked around us making sure keeping a far enough distance away.

“Yes, I will.”

“We will see about that pathetic human!” He screamed showing his sharp-edged teeth. His appearance brought a fear to me. But I was getting angry with our conversation.

“You do not believe me?” I yelled back at him.

He smiled showing his teeth and said, “No, I do not. Your life will surely perish if you continue this path. I know you know how powerful my disciple is. I was there when you were at your weakest. You have changed but you are still weak. You will die, when you encounter Dylan the next time your paths cross. I have foreseen it.”

My emotional state with Nephan compared to Melk was a three sixty. Melk I had peace, with Nephan I wanted to continue to argue with him. Anger brewed inside me, from our simple conversation. “That is enough, Nephan. Be gone from me!” I yelled.

“As you wish.” He bowed and vanished within a grey vapor smoke. And the grey smoke evaporated into the air. Once Nephan disappeared, those emotions of anger and fear vanished. Melk’s presence began to refill my body with happiness and peace.

Melk began to speak, “I have never seen a human ordered Nephan and he complied. Like I mentioned before, you are a great human. You handled him very well. You did not play his taunting game. And he listened to you, when you told him to leave. He is very scared of you right now.”

“But I did play his game, his anger rubbed off onto me.”

“He has a way with that to everybody, including me. I have handled him long enough to show him the correct emotions that he did not want me to produce. I cannot tell him to leave and he leaves. That is a gift of itself. You have a way with us, that no human does not have. You can control us. Only some one that has a great power can achieve that.”

It took me awhile to respond to her statement. I knew I had to speak this whole experience with my Master. I need to tell him. I understand what he spoke to me about. Anyone who is anyone could not perform what I just did. Who can control the Darkness, as it fears your name. Happiness over joyed me. But I did not show it through my expression. I can defeat Dylan, and I will.

“Melk, I must go now. Show me the way to get back.”

“As you wish.” And she also bowed to me as Nephah did a moment. “Please Andrew if you will follow me.” We walk a few yards away to replace my body sitting as it was. Confusion passed by me.

“How is this possible, Melk?”

“You entered our invisible world only a few have glimpsed. There is always a hidden world battling within your world. Now you must go back to yours.”

“I will return.”

“We will be expecting your arrival, Andrew.” And she bowed once more. She to disappeared. And I had been alone with myself. I walked toward my body and touched it. My body sucked me back in. And I opened my eyes for a second time.