Jacob was tugging on a rusty doorknob, but no matter how hard he pulled, it wouldn’t budge, the door was frozen tight. He turned and searched the small room behind him, seeing only murky brown walls closing in tighter. More than anything he knew that he had to escape, the blackness was unbearable and it felt as if his insides were being ripped from out of his body, piece by piece. Frantically he pulled on the door again; if he didn’t escape soon he just knew the darkness would completely devour his soul. A bright beam of light expanded over his closed eyes, and like the scratching of an annoying itch, he turned over in his bed burying his head deep into his pillow. The morning sun had brought him to consciousness and he couldn’t believe that he was only having a nightmare, it had felt so real. With the frightening dream spent, he knew that he should be free from the crushing darkness, but the strong sinister feelings still persisted, and similar to the night before they were drawing out hideous cravings for dark energy that were pulling at his insides. Strange images of a palace and orb coordinates were again flashing through his mind, and somehow he was sure that they were linked to a place where he needed to go. The need to feel dark energy was stronger than before, and his body shook violently feeling totally alone, depressed, and helpless. He opened his eyes just a crack, lifted his hand to look at his ring, and saw the crystal shinning as bright as a lit candlewick. Trembling even more, he curled up into a ball, hoping that his cravings would soon withdraw. But to his revulsion the morning seemed to be eternity’s equal, and he suffered on, until finally, at last, when all hope had been consumed, the intense cravings began to fade. “I’ve got to do something about this,” he muttered, scared and quivering. “It’s getting worse and worse. And since this sickness comes from the Enchanted Realm, the answer to my cure must be there. My fudazzle power must be telling me where to go to get this resolved,” he finally concluded. “And if word of my having an addiction to dark energy ever got out, it would mean the end of my apprenticeship. I have to keep this quiet and find the cure myself!” With no other choice, he decided that when the moment seemed right, at the time nobody would notice his absence, he would sneak away in search of a cure.
He dragged himself out of bed and dressed. His stomach growled, forcing him to hurry and wash his face, knowing full well that he may have already missed breakfast. After drying off with a towel, he sprinted down the stairs and slid to a halt in front of the dinning room, finding Emalynn and the Lynex finishing up their meal.
“I thought you’d never come down,” said Emalynn, just about ready to shove her last spoon full of scrambled eggs into her mouth.
“I just overslept that’s all. Err—a—no roosters around here to help wake me up.”
The Lynex held out his chest signaling an oncoming boast. “Being that I am the greatest Lynex that there is, was, and ever will be, I am never late for food!”
Embarrassed for his tardiness Jacob sat down and began loading up his plate with only the small portion of food left on the platter. Inhaling a lungful of the yummy air, he wished there was more. Within moments Mum entered the dinning room balancing a tray loaded in her hand with full platters of scrambled eggs, sausage, and fried tators that she had saved for him.
“Your breakfasts are always so delicious,” said Emalynn, wiping her mouth with a cloth napkin.
“Thank you Emalynn,” replied Mum with a broad smile.
After Mum unloaded the food, Jacob scooped up several well-proportioned servings onto his plate, and then added, “Yeah, your cooking is always terrific, and thanks for saving me some.”
“Well I hope you enjoy it, but don’t make this a habit,” she said, as she turned to leave. “Do you need anything else?”
“My back has an itch, could you scratch it,” asked the Lynex with a sweet pleading look.
Mum ignored his request and promptly left the room.
“I’m spending the morning with Mrs. Oubladew. She’s going to teach me all about dwarf cooking today, would you like to join me Jacob?” asked Emalynn.
“No thanks,” replied Jacob, holding a huge spoonful of eggs. “I’m gonna spend the morning with the phoenix examining the Galeeky Stone Seal.”
“Are you sure?” questioned Emalynn. “It should be fun. Besides you’re not going to find anything out, you need to take the test of the stone seal before you can use it. And you know you can’t do that!”
“It won’t take me long, and I’ll come as soon as I’m finished, I promise,” replied Jacob. He stuffed the spoonful of eggs into his mouth, forcing his cheeks to puff out.
“I think your overestimating the seal,” replied Emalynn. “And you’ll regret missing this chance to learn about real dwarf cooking from a professional chef.”
Jacob had no desire to learn cooking, a more exciting dwarf class such as digging for diamonds or axe throwing was more his style. He shook his head and then hurried to polish off his breakfast. It only took him seconds to clean off his packed plate, as he heartedly crammed the last pickled sausage into his already full mouth. Hurriedly he wiped his chin with a napkin, eager to start in on his examination of the Galeeky Seal. He arose from the table with cheeks stuffed to capacity and headed towards the stairs.
“That was quick,” said Emalynn surprised. “But don’t go yet. I’ve got something important that I need to tell you.” She waved her hand inviting him to return and sit down again.
Curious as to what she had to say, he pulled out his chair and again sat.
“I heard that the apprentice ball is not just only a dance, but also a dinner. Isn’t that wonderful?” said Emalynn with a happy smile.
“Yeab, niceb,” mumbled Jacob, wondering why he had just sat down again.
“I just can’t wait to see my new dress. I hope Mr. Pitts picks it up soon,” she sighed. “And I hope it’s pink. What color do you think I look good in?
Nearly tortured to tears Jacob stood up again, determined to escape Emalynn’s pointless girl talk. Hastily he rushed from the dinning room leaving Emalynn glaring at his back. Driven on by his determined dedication to win their bet, he dashed up the stairs and briskly entered his room. The phoenix was already waiting for him, perched on the bed’s headboard with the Galeeky Stone Seal clamped tight in his beak.
“You’re not planning on taking the tests of the Galeeky Seal are you?” asked the phoenix, as he dropped the seal onto Jacob’s pillow.
“Thanks for bringing it to me, and yes I am,” replied Jacob, solemnly gazing at the stone seal.
“You realize that if you fail you will be cursed for life and be discharged forever as an apprentice. Are you willing to risk that?”
Jacob hesitated, not liking how the phoenix had phrased it. Nervously he replied back, “Err-uh—yep, I guess I am.”
Despite his nervous response, he believed he understood the true gravity of his decision, but in order to win the bet on his own merits there was really no other choice he could make. Handing the stone over for the sentinels to retrieve the Book of Galeeky seemed like cheating, and like Emalynn had said, the seal was useless unless he passed the tests acquiring the right to control it. Besides if true sentinels like his father and uncle were willing to risk their lives for the sentinel cause, then why shouldn’t he? After all, they didn’t ban the tests until after they had become sentinels, which meant that his father, Uncle Clair, and even Mr. Pitts had taken the tests to qualify themselves for apprenticeship. Moreover he had promised himself that he’d experience the same things that his father had, and this was his chance to do exactly that. He only hoped that it wouldn’t be too difficult.
With a heavy sigh he looked at the phoenix and said, “If I can’t pass the test than I am not worthy to be a sentinel. And I need to find this out for myself.”
“Well if you desire to test yourself, then you’ll need to attach the stone to the bottom of your orb. Usually a future apprentice uses a sentinel trainer’s orb for this, but your orb will work just as well,” instructed the phoenix with a slight nod of his head.
Slowly Jacob reached out and took the stone seal from off his bed. He then rifled through his sentinel’s pack to find his orb. Gently he lifted his orb out of the pack and fit the seal into the orb’s matching cavity centered on the base. With both hands clutching the instrument he nervously waited, wondering what would happen next. Almost immediately he felt his head spin and saw the room whirling about him. He closed his eyes for only a second and then anxiously reopened them again. As he suspected, he had been transported to a new location, but it was nothing like anything he had imagined. He was now standing in a barren void; a very peculiar place with no walls or ceiling. Under him was a dark marble floor that extended into the far reaches of the horizon. From a distance he could see a thin vapor of smoke mysteriously drifting his way. As it drew closer it was gathering together, forming into the outline of a transparent man. The smoke came to a stop in front of him and lingered until it solidified into a gray haired middle aged man who was dressed in a pure white suit with a matching white shirt and tie. To his side he held a snow-white wooden staff. Presenting a sweeping smile, the man seemed to be rather cheerful. It took a full minute for the essence to become fully tangible, and then once formed the man leaned forward, resting upon his staff. Oddly he had a familiar look and Jacob knew that he had seen his likeness before, but no matter how hard he struggled to place the stranger’s face he couldn’t come up with a single memory.
“Ahh, Jacob my boy, you have arrived for the first test. I have been expecting you,” said the man, “just as I did with your father and uncle before you.”
“So they did take the Galeeky tests,” replied Jacob, pleased that he had been right.
“Yes my boy, and they both passed to become great sentinels. And now it’s your turn to test your abilities and find out if you are worthy to follow in their footsteps. I am Doctor Galeeky. Doctor, because I hold a doctorate in the art of sentinel defense. I am the guide of the sentinels, and I am very pleased that you have chosen to be here.”
Before Jacob had a chance to think, Dr. Galeeky raised his arms and swung his staff over Jacob’s head. A murky darkness rapidly flooded over him, turning everything pitch-black. Within seconds his surroundings began to lighten, and then to his utter astonishment he found himself now standing in the middle of the Frosty Mug Tavern, staring directly at Emalynn who was standing behind the counter busily stirring a simmering pot.
“What no test? Just a visit to the Frosty Mug Tavern!” he laughed, feeling relieved that nothing out of the ordinary had transpired. He scanned the room and saw a Snodvarian Nomad with a purple spotted turbine sitting at the counter. Behind him he noticed a noisy group of nomadic dwarf female pig poachers crowded around a table. “Nothing out of the ordinary here, pig poachers are always in town at this time of year,” he thought, with a knowledgeable self-confidence that he had never before experienced. “Hey! Wait just a minute?” he suddenly realized, “how’d I know all that?” In a sudden flash of comprehension he realized that he now possessed an incredible knowledge, well beyond anything he could ever imagine. He knew about cultures, customs, languages, trivia, and could easily recall ever detail of everything he had ever heard or seen during his life. Even the time when he was only four years old and a horse had stepped on his tail. “But by golly that’s all wrong,” he puzzled, “I’ve never done any of those great things? Am I really that great?” Suddenly a horrid thought struck him like a bolt of lightning, causing him to stagger back in shock. “NOOO—IT CAN’T BE!” he cried, regaining his balance. He stood frozen now understanding just who he may be; too frightened to look down at himself and confirm his theory. Finally, after a full minute of mustering up courage, he slowly lowered his head and looked down at himself, shocked to see his suspicions bear out. He had hairy fur covered arms. “NOOOOO!” he screamed at the top of his lungs. “IT CAN’T BE! IT CAN’T BE! I AM THE LYNEX!”
His loud shout echoed through the tavern and Emalynn looked up, showing him a friendly smile. Terrified, he patted his body down with his hands and felt his soft fur underneath his clothes. And then without even thinking he naturally stuck his chest out and smiled back.
“What’s going on here!” he stammered, realizing how comforting Emalynn’s reassuring acknowledgement felt. “But this isn’t me! By gum I’m awfully upset now, so how can I act like this?” he pondered. “I must not only be sharing the Lynex’s body, but also his feelings too! It’s gotta be, that’s the only explanation for this!”
He struggled to stop smiling, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t stop, the natural passions he was feeling as the Lynex were just too strong. And then to his surprise he suddenly found himself whistling and joyfully skipping toward the counter. He tried to stop himself, but he just couldn’t, the Lynex was feeling happy, and he was powerless to suppress any of the Lynex’s emotions or actions.
Suddenly it dawned upon him why the Royal Family had desired the Lynex’s service. He had questioned before how anyone could ever want such a pesky braggart around them, it had never made any sense until now. But now with his new found memories it all seemed so perfectly clear. The Enchanted Realm existed as a world like any other, filled with abundant diversities, different countries, languages, cultures and customs. The Lynex served as a translator, a guide and coach for his father and mother. As the Lynex, he could speak a variety of languages, and was an invaluable asset to the royal house. While pondering on this, more bits and pieces about his new self began to come to light, and he recalled the great king and queen who were always so kind to him. There was also their adorable child, Jacob, whom he was now privileged to serve.
“Hey wait just a minute! I’m Jacob,” he thought, upset for briefly losing himself inside the Lynex’s identity.
Just then the door to the Frosty Mug Tavern swung open and he turned around to look, seeing himself for the first time from another set of eyes. He felt excited, and wanted to please the prince, “But the prince often ignores me like I do not exist,” he painfully thought. “But I am bound to serve regardless, and I should let him know that his great servant is here.”
Immediately Jacob found himself blurting out, “I am ready to serve you prince, I the greatest lynex of all time stand prepared for any mission of danger, any threat of war, or to lend you my skill and cunning for a nice foot massage.”
The prince continued to ignore him and marched by with an air of indifference. Upon reaching the counter, the prince drew up a stool and sat down. But undaunted Jacob approached the prince, and stopping just short of an adjacent stool he looked up and smiled, hoping that the prince would now notice him.
“Lynex we’re having our lunch. Would you like to try some of my dwarf stew? It’s rather yummy,” said Emalynn, looking down over the counter softly at him.
Once again Jacob stuck out his chest. “Oh fudge, I wish I could control myself,” he thought. Emalynn smiled, and as the Lynex he felt comforted by her friendliness. He found himself nodding and grinning back at her, unable to restrain his mouth. Reaching up he started to climb the tall empty stool, intent on seating himself next to the prince. But to his surprise, he felt a deadly silent gas slip out. “I did it again, this body is unmanageable,” he angrily muttered to himself, embarrassed as Jacob, but feeling happy and relieved as the Lynex.
Excitedly Emalynn stepped over to the steaming pot and scooped out two full bowls of home made dwarf stew. After readying the meal she placed the bowls and two spoons onto a tray and carried the delicious looking food over to their counter. At once her nose wrinkled, her mouth curved downwards, and she quickly slid the steaming bowls off the tray onto the counter, spilling some as she hastily backed away. “Phew! What stinks here!” she exclaimed,
Jacob found himself shrugging his small shoulders as he lifted his spoon and dug into his meal.
“Wasn’t me!” responded the prince with his hand cupped to his nose.
Emalynn began fanning the air with her tray. “Well, how is it anyway?” she asked.
“Can’t say,” replied the prince in a stifled voice, now pinching his nose with his fingers, “It’s hard to taste it through this foul pong.”
“This food is fit for a great lynex like me,” said Jacob. He slurped the tasty stew off his spoon for a second time and Emalynn returned a smile. Jacob felt pleased and sad at the same moment. He smiled back at Emalynn and then turned towards the prince watching his irritable face. He could now sense the Lynex’s sorrowful feelings and instinctively listened to his thoughts, “Is there any way I can serve this prince, he has no need of me. I wonder if there is anything I can be great at that would cause him to like and need me?”
Unexpectedly the room began to spin, and in the blink of an eye Jacob found himself once again standing before Dr. Galeeky. Taken aback by the suddenness of the change, he stood dumbfounded for a moment before realizing that he had transformed back to his original self. A wave of extreme relief suddenly washed over him. “That was horrible! Having to share the thoughts and body of the Lynex was absolutely sick, something that no one should ever have to experience,” he thought to himself, as he held out his familiar hands and joyfully stared at his own flesh.
“Now Jacob, you walked for a very brief moment in someone else’s shoes. How did it make you feel?” asked Doctor Galeeky with a thoughtful gaze.
“Not very good,” responded Jacob. He felt dreadful, as he now understood for the first time how uncaring he had been. “In fact I’m ashamed of myself, do I really treat the Lynex that way?” he questioned, hoping to receive some form of comfort.
“You alone are the best judge of that,” replied Dr. Galeeky. Behind them, two cushy white chairs suddenly appeared. Dr. Galeeky held out his hand and said, “Please, take a seat Jacob.”
Nervously Jacob sat down as Doctor Galeeky followed. Jacob knew that his treatment of the Lynex was enough justification to fail his test, and that he would soon be cursed and exiled from the Sentinels. Distraught he waited to receive a terrible punishment.
“Please relax, this will not be as bad as it seems,” assured Dr. Galeeky.
“So-so what’s my curse?” asked Jacob, expecting the worst. “Are you going to disfigure me or something like that?”