Chapter 1
“Zounds! This message comes from my old schoolmate and colleague, Sir Thurston Plunkett of the Spiral Geographic Society!” Storm Professor Halston Balestrom exclaimed. “Should we do something, Professor?” asked Stephen Spiritcaller, a Grandmaster Necromancer. “I would say yes,” said Stephen’s best friend, Patrick EmeraldPyre, Grandmaster Thaumaturge, “if Professor Balestrom knows this guy, we need to help him. Where was the message sent from professor?” “Oh my, this message was sent just outside of Celestia, but that world has been sealed away from the rest of the spiral for a long time, maybe the Spiral Geographic Society finally built an airship sturdy enough to fly all the way to Celestia,” Halston explained. “Ok great, how do we get the spiral key to Celestia?” Stephen asked.
“The key was shipped to the Spiral Geographic Warehouse in Reagent’s Square in Marleybone some time ago so that it would never be lost or found. But if the Stone of Mazzaroth was broken into three pieces, then I fear Morganthe has returned to power at last,” Halston said. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Who has returned to what power?” Patrick asked. “Never mind that now,” Halston said, “You need to go to the warehouse in Marleybone and get that key,” Balestrom said.
“Knock knock,” said a voice at the door to the storm school. “Come in,” said Professor Balestrom. A young wizard about 13(the same age as Patrick and Stephen) walked in the door. “Ahhhh, hello there Miss Moongem, and what can I do for you this fine day?” Professor Balestrom asked. Fallon Moongem Walked in the door to the Storm School. She was a Grandmaster Life wizard, also known as a Theurgist. She was wearing the same hat, robe, and pair of boots that Patrick and Stephen were wearing. She and several other wizards had been there when Patrick had exposed the stolen gear during the Waterworks raid. They referred to the sets of gear only as ‘The Waterworks Gear’, ever since they had found out about the Critical and Block Statistics from Diego the Duelmaster in Unicorn Way, the gear they had found had made more sense, but the gear didn’t quite understand them since they really should have been wearing the gear because they were only Grandmasters. But the two boys, Fallon, Leesha Darkheart, Wolf Redfist, Justin Shadowblade, and many more had found the waterworks gear and put it on instantly. They took what was left to Headmaster Ambrose.
Fallon was different from most theurgists. She had short blonde hair, deep blue eyes that darted around, and a thoughtful face. She cared deeply for others and wanted to bring out the best in her pet Satyr. She stared at the three people in the classroom. “I couldn’t help but overhear that you two might be going into the warehouse in Marleybone to get the Celestia Spiral Key,” she said, “and I thought me and Wolf could come.” “That would be great, Fallon, that means that we can leave for Marleybone now,” said Wolf Redfist, walking into the room. “Good luck you four, and be careful!” Professor Balestrom called out as the four headed towards Bartleby.
They soon found themselves standing at the opposing edifice of the Spiral Geographic Warehouse in Reagent’s Square, Marleybone. “Oh, my goodness, that is a tall building,” said Wolf. “You bet it is,” said Patrick, “but it is worth it if we can get to Celestia.” The four Grandmaster Wizards entered the warehouse. They got to the second floor when they heard a banging and crashing noise deep in the gloom. “What’s that? Who’s hiding in there?!” Fallon shouted. “Allow me,” said Patrick. Patrick pulled out his Lifeforce Blade that he kept in a sheath attached down his back. Patrick’s sword instantly came to life in shockingly colorful electricity.
Patrick’s eyes flashed briefly blue. Blue bolts of electricity arced down the sword shaped like a dental floss pick. The electricity congregated into a small glowing ball at the end of the sword. The ball floated out into the room, then exploded into sharp shards of ice, flying in every direction. “Ouch! Mrowwwwwwwww!” came the cry of pain “You’ll pay for that!” Two Cat Bandits jumped out of the clutter and immediately began to throw Balance spells in Patrick’s direction. “Tower Shield is the best thing for Balance Spells,” Patrick said and cast a large amount of them on him and his friends. “Now for my favorite spell,” Patrick said. He repeated the same process he did with his Ice Shard spell, only charging the globe of mana with a different desire. The ball sank into the ground and the room was blistering cold with a huge Blizzard. The Cat Bandits gave up after being frozen. “Ok I’ll talk,” said one. “Estrikir Gloomthorn is at the top and intends to take the spiral key for Celestia to Morganthe,” the cat said. “And he has guards on almost every floor,” said the other. “Well then,” Fallon said, “I guess it’s a race to the top then.”
The four wizards jumped in the elevator and hit the button for the top floor. But about halfway to the top the elevator was stopped almost automatically. “Hey,” said Wolf, “what’s going on here?” The elevator doors opened and they were standing in a rather large, open room. Standing in the room, was a crab dressed in red armor. “I am General Stormclaw, who are you and why have you come here?” asked the crab. “We come from Wizard City and are here for the Celestia Spiral Key,” Stephen said. “Estrikir told me to stop all who come for the key, as Morganthe needs it,” said the General, “Fight for what you want!” said Stormclaw as a dueling circle formed in the room. “Ugh,” sighed Patrick, “I didn’t expect this.”
Stormclaw started the duel by casting a high Tower Shield on himself. Patrick took up front. “Legion Shield!” he shouted as a blue ball of mana left the tip of his sword. Blue swirling energies surrounded him and him comrades, protecting them from damage. Wolf cast a Weakness on the crab, lowering his damage even more. “Now we’re rolling,” said Stephen, throwing out a Wraith. At the last moment, Stephen felt his body tighten up as he pushed out extra damage. The Wraith all but took out the crab general. “Wow,” commented Fallon, “was that-” “A critical hit,” said Patrick, finishing her statement.
As the general grew weaker from Stephen’s Wraith, Patrick finally finished the battle with an Ice Wyvern, a type of dragon. “You are powerful wizards,” said the general with his dyeing breath. “Well of course,” said Wolf, “We have after all, defeated Malistaire.”
As the four wizards exited the elevator at the top floor, they prepared for battle once again. But this time, they saw what could only be Estrikir Gloomthorn, servant of Morganthe. “I see we have company,” said Estrikir in a deep voice, “I know what you seek and you shall not have it.” Even as Estrikir was speaking, he didn’t even see he was slowly being encased with ice by Patrick’s Frostbite spell.
By the time Estrikir did see, it was too late. “WHA-” “That will keep him frozen for a long time,” said Patrick, taking the spiral key. “Let’s get to Celestia.”
