Chapter 21
"First off before we get started there's something that I need to do. Murphy asked me to look at that archives my family collected on some of the people who were killed in the purge to see if there was anything on your father Bellamy and while I haven't been able to find anything yet, I did find this in the book Murphy's father gave to him. It's addressed to you so I'm not sure what's in it but it's signed at the bottom by your father." Roan says handing Bellamy the letter.
He takes it but isn't sure he wants to read it. He carefully puts the letter in his pocket and turns his attention back to Roan so he can tell them what he's found.
"Mbege's journal has a lot to do with his dreams but as a dream walker they are more informative than most and it seems he learned a few things about The Key and the relationship between shadow warriors and dream walkers. Going through the book that Murphy's dad gave him I found a lot of references to the old ways and what I believe to be a key of some sort to the language of the Elders but I can't be certain of it just yet. Anyways, from what I've gathered both Mbege and your dad talk about something called the prophecy of the chosen which was a decree from the Temple of the Elders before they were forgotten that states: A time will come when two will rise to cleanse the world of the darkness. One of dark and one of light but both can walk in the fog. Once united all will be revealed and The Key shall be vanquished but the sacrifice of one will heal. Now I'm still not sure what that means but I believe that you two are the chosen from the prophecy."
"What makes you so sure? We didn't even exist when that was written. It could be about any shadow warrior and dream walker past, present and future." Murphy states.
"It does kind of seem far fetched. I mean it could of been someone killed in the purge or it could be someone who hasn't been born yet. Why are you so sure its us?' Bellamy says agreeing with Murphy.
"The Elders from the temple are my ancestors and the temple ruins are in Azgeda. I don't think it was a coincidence that either of you two came to me for answers. The Elders were said to be seers and people came from hundreds of miles to partake in their wisdom so I believe the prophecy is legit. Besides there isn't anyone else it can be about because it talks about both of you being able to walk in the fog which is what Mbege calls it when he walked through a dream. He said it was like being in a really think fog and at times only being able to make out the outline of a shape. Not to mention your shadow magic is dark and Bellamy's is light. It has to be you two."
"I hate to say it but he has a point. As much as I hate prophecies and shit like that, it makes sense." Lincoln says.
"Okay, say I believe you and we are the chosen how the hell are we supposed to vanquish The Key? And what the hell does the sacrifice of one will heal mean? Why are prophecies always like a fucking riddle. They should just come out and say what the fuck they mean instead of having people guess." Murphy says still a skeptical.
"Well that I'm still not sure on. I'm trying here but there's a lot of information and most of it is in the language of the Elders that I can't translate. As far as vanquishing The Key I'd assume the answer will be revealed once you unite..."
"But you aren't sure what that means exactly, are you?" Murphy interrupts.
"No, I'm not. Uniting has too many means to be able to narrow it down to a definitive one but I'm hoping more research will help and that this key I found is a step in the right direction when it comes to translating the Elders' language. I know its not much and its given you more questions than answers but its something. I really wish there was more." Roan says sympathetically.
"I know and it is more than what we had before. Just keep us informed and hurry because we only have a few more weeks to figure this out before she kills my sister and my friends."
"I know and I'm working as fast as I can. I wasn't the best student when my mother tried to teach me this stuff. I thought it was pointless and I'd never need it but as usual she was right. I'm sorry."
"It's fine just keep looking." Murphy says exasperated.
"Are you okay? You seem like you're here but not." Bellamy asks concerned.
"I'm fine. I was just...I was...Does it say anything in either one of those about a shadow warrior being able to walk through dreams that isn't referencing the prophecy?"
"Mbege mentions something about latent abilities passed down from parent to child but the book from your dad says something completely different. Dream walkers and shadow warriors are rare. Even though there were quite a few in the purge, they only make up maybe 1% of the population, if that but a shadow warrior who can walk through dreams or vice versa is absolutely unheard of. Apparently your father did research on it because he wrote a few things down about it in the back but I've only skimmed it."
"Why would he research it?"
"Apparently there was this one time when you were a child that you told him about a dream you had but it wasn't your dream, it was Bellamy's and you described what it was like which is exactly how your mother described dream walking. Since it was obvious that you were a shadow warrior, he began looking into the phenomenon. If you want I can give you the book back so you can read it. I don't need it to use the key because it's on a piece of paper that isn't a part of the book." Roan says taking out the paper with the key on it and handing to book to Murphy.
He reluctantly takes it, unsure if he really wants to know what it says. Roan soon dismisses himself and heads back down to the basement to continue his research. Lincoln decides to head outside and workout a bit since there's really nothing else for him to do and Murphy and Bellamy set at the table staring at the book and letter in front of them. Neither wanting to read them but at the same time curious as to what they'll say. After sitting at the table for another 20 minutes, they both get up and head to their respective rooms to read alone. However 15 minutes later Bellamy is standing in Murphy's doorway while he stares at the unopened book on his bed.
"Can't bring yourself to open yours either, huh? I tried a few times myself but I couldn't do it." Bellamy says.
"It shouldn't be this hard to read something that he wrote especially since I've read different pages in this book tons of times before."
"Maybe its because he actually wrote it whereas the book is just a book. The part in the back is more personal because its actually something from him." Bellamy suggests.
"Maybe. What's your excuse?"
"Its a letter from him addressed to me and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I never even knew the guy and up until recently I thought he didn't give two shits about me or my mom. It's confusing and I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel. I hated him for so long for leaving me and my mom but what if this letter explains all that and its a good reason. I don't wanna know what it says because I guess I'm scared that it'll reveal something about me that I won't like. I know it sounds stupid but I don't know anything about the man but apparently he knew everything about me and it makes me so pissed off at my mom because she knew. I don't know what to do."
Murphy pats the bed beside him and Bellamy slowly enters the room to sit down.
"What if I read the letter from your dad and you read what my dad wrote about me? That way neither of has to read something we don't want to but we'll still know what they say. Or we could read them together. Either way there may be something we could use in them and if we don't read them we'll never know it."
Bellamy thinks about it for a minute, not really sure he wants Murphy to read something with his name on it but at the same time still unsure if he wants to read it himself. In the end he hands the letter to Murphy who in turn hands him the book and they both get comfy, laying side by side on the bed as they open them.