• Chapter 12: Galina Thyella

    The ship only took about two hours before it arrived on a dock on the southernmost tip of Cumumilos Island.
    The four soon disembarked the craft.
    “Give our thanks to your father, friend!” said Valerius.
    “Sure will!” said the Aura as she flitted off back to Fog-Gandros.
    The sailor soon started tending to maintenance on the boat.
    He said, “The main town on this island is Kimolos Town. It’s a rather peaceful place. Some of my crew like to visit there for a more relaxing shore leave.”
    “Thanks!” said Nauplius. “We’ll go there.”
    The four gave their farewells as they went to the town.

    Kimolos Town was a relatively small town. It had other high-technology that could be permitted in a small area, but at the same time, it looked like a calm town of cabins.
    The heart of the town had a shrine to Hestia, goddess of the hearth and home.
    One person was spending time in calm reflection there when the four heroes visited.
    This individual was another female elf, as Zanthe. However, her skin color was powder blue, because of her affinity for Air Magic. Her hair was black with a glaucous shine in the light. Whenever her eyes were open, they were indigo—a tone of which that many call “electric indigo.” Her clothing consisted of a navy blue corset, a sapphire blue skirt, and an Egyptian blue belt to keep them together. She also had on her feet a pair of lavender blush sandals and a headband the color of heliotrope.
    Within her hands was a staff with a steel blue shaft and a sky blue sphere at the top. In the event she were to have to face an enemy up close and personal—thus rendering distance spells impractical—her staff would glow and she could swing it at her enemy to damage them that way.
    This elf, sensing some new presences behind her, stood up and turned around to face them.
    “Ah, good day to you, strangers,” said the bluish elf. “Permit me to introduce myself. I am Galina Thyella of New Nimbaxos.”
    “Good day to you too, Mistress Galina,” replied Valerius. “I am Valerius Magnitis, of Paxotassia Town.”
    “From the Ionized Ionian Island of Paxotassia?” asked Galina.
    “The same,” answered Valerius.
    Nauplius said, “I am Nauplius Sideras of Gray Corfu.”
    Rouvin then added, “I am Rouvin Koukounari, and with me is Zanthe Sfendami. We are from Emerald Kavala.”
    “What brings you here to Kimolos Town?” asked Galina.
    “Well,” explained Valerius, “we’ve stopped by here in pursuit of the warlock Erebus Tonadi. He had kidnapped my beloved, Delphinia Triantafyllou—”
    “The healer from Olympalantis?” said Galina.
    “The same,” continued Valerius. “He is also gathering components for the Forbidden Ritual.”
    Galina’s face became ashen with terror.
    “The Forbidden Ritual?!” she gasped. “Please, let me aid you in your mission to stop this villain!”
    “We need all the help we can get!” said Valerius.
    “Welcome to our team!” said Zanthe.

    Galina explained, “Northwest of here are the Cumumilos Catacombs. The people of this island bury their dead—both good and evil—within those caverns. One of those interred is an infamous tyrant who wants held this island in an iron grip.”
    Valerius said, “Silvanos of Emerald Kavala mentioned one of the components for the Forbidden Ritual is the Crown of a Tyrant. Suppose he might try to find it there?”
    Nauplius said, “It would not surprise me if it were so.”
    Galina then said, “Follow me. I’ve visited the catacombs in the past, so I know my way around. There are others who have explored it too, and I’m sure they may know something.”
    At once, the five journeyed northwest.
    Within a couple of minutes, they soon found the gates to the Cumumilos Catacombs. The entry in the forboding lone mountainside looked as though they were doors to a temple for worshipping Hades, the god of the dead. The doors were already open, and this had the party uneasy.
    “Think Erebus might have opened them?” asked Rouvin.
    “The people never believed anyone would use magic to open them, or need to do so,” answered Galina. “So it’s a very likely possibility.”
    Taking a deep breath, the five entered.