Legends of Amacia Rise of the Caverias

When Enoch, Hanna, and Nathanael returned to the main room, they noticed that just as he said, dinner was ready. Every seat but three was filled at the table: Enoch’s seat at the head of the table and two seats either side of him. All of the other chairs were filled. Kida sat opposite Enoch on the other end of the table. Electra sat in the second chair on the left from Enoch’s chair. Elias sat opposite of her. Two seven-foot Lynxian men sat beside Electra. Next to Kida on her left was a human woman that was over seven feet in height wearing a plain woolen dress like Kida and Electra. She was bronzed skin with piercing green eyes and flaming red hair that reached to her waist. Her face was long and fair with high cheekbones and a structure that was vaguely Lynxian. Her body was very well proportioned, being slender and lean. Across from her sat another woman about seven and a half feet tall with more of a warrior’s build. She too was lean and slender, very well proportioned physically. But she exhibited more strength than the red head from her physical presence. She had strange bluish-gray eyes that seemed to bore holes in anything she looked at. Her skin was bronzed and leathery as if she was used to being outdoors with a face that was fairly long and lean, but not as long as the red-head’s face. She had snow-white hair that was down to her waist, braided into a long single ponytail. Her hands and arms showed evidence of great strength. She too wore a plain woolen dress.

Next to her sat a giant of a man nearly nine feet in height that resembled Enoch a great deal. He was dressed like Enoch in a plain woolen shirt and trousers with a cloak hanging on the back of his chair. He was powerfully built with keen brown eyes and hair that was moderately long. His features indicated a distinct mixture of human and Lynxian with the skeletal structure showing the Lynxian traits. His ears were slightly tapered to a point and his fingernails looked rather like claws. Beside him was another man that would have passed for a brother, roughly the same height and build with hazel eyes and almond hair. He wore the same type of clothes the other men were wearing. When Enoch entered the room with Hanna and Nathanael, everyone stopped and looked at them as they approached the table. Enoch sat Hanna on the seat to his right and then motioned to his left, saying to Nathanael, “Please have a seat, my Kaitian friend.”

Nathanael sat down, looking over meal spread before him and Hanna. Roast meats, breads, vegetables, and drinks sat on the table. The aroma of the food was very pleasing to Hanna and Nathanael’s senses. “Smells good and looks really good,” Hanna complimented, “My compliments to the chef.”

Kida and Electra smiled as the red head spoke up, saying, “Thank you, sister. It’s good to know that what we prepare is appreciated.”

Hanna smiled pleasantly, nodding to her as she said, “It’s been a while since I have had a good meal.”

“Before we get started, let me introduce you to the rest of my family, Hanna,” Enoch announced as he rose from his chair. “You have already met Kida and Electra. Sitting next to you, Hanna, is Elias Caverias, my brother.”

Hanna shook Elias’s hand as Enoch continued, “Beside him are Andrew and his brother, Hunter, my sons...the Sons of Thunder as I’ve called them. Snowy-haired one on the end there is Elle. She’s an Ilmarinen, the last of her race we know of. Across the table from her is my sister Emma and beside her are Ben and George.”

Hanna sat up straight in her seat and said, “You have a strange family, Enoch. But who am I to talk.” Turning to the group, she introduced herself, saying, “This may be a little confusing, so bear with me. I wasn’t always like you see me now. Before I was caught, tortured, mutilated, and mutated by the Emperor, I was a man, and as a man, I had several names. Once upon a time, I was called Beowulf. That name still has some meaning to me. However, the name that I preferred to go by before my ill-fated encounter with the Emperor was Hannibal Smith. Now, I’m simply Hanna. I hope and pray that at some point I’ll find the key to return me to my true form. But it’s going to have to wait for now.”

“Do not fear,” Elias said softly, staring into Hanna’s eyes as he held her hand, “If there’s a way to reverse what the Emperor did to you, we’ll find it.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Hanna replied, “It helps.” After a brief troubled sigh, Hanna continued, “It surely is a strange fate that brought me to your table. My companion there is Nathanael Milineus of Kaitia, whom I just found is the father of Kida and husband to Electra. His daughter, Selina, is my wife. We were married before my mutation, and presently sits captive in the Harem of the Emperor. I must find a way of getting her back before it’s too late. She means everything to me.”

Enoch put his giant hand on Hanna’s shoulder, saying, “Never fear. We’ll get her back.”

George and Ben leaned forward to see Nathanael as he sat looking at Hanna and Enoch. George nudged Electra and asked her if it were really him and she nodded.

“But let’s put that aside for now and give thanks for this bountiful meal and for the presence of our precious brother and sister who have traveled far and wide to find us,” Enoch declared. “Let’s give thanks to the Almighty Ancient of Days for his mercy and blessings this day. Would you care to do the honors, little sister?”

“I would be honored. Besides, praying will do me some good in my present state anyway,” Hanna answered as she suddenly looked around to see if Argus was still around. Argus was gone. “First, where’s Argus?” she asked.

“He stepped out for some air and to look around,” Elias replied. “It’s been many cycles since he’s graced our island.”

“Oh, okay,” Hanna answered. At that, she blessed the food and started to eat. They ate and made small talk about the food as they did. Hanna sipped the drink and asked, “Is this bison milk and honey?” Enoch nodded as Hanna took another swallow. “It’s good as it was in the dream,” she complimented.

“I’m glad you like it,” Kida called out. “It’s one of my special blends.”

Hanna raised his glass to Kida and said, “I love it. It’s soothing, like Lynxian purrs.” Those present raised their glasses as Hanna toasted, saying, “To Lynxians, and their unique gifts.”

Everyone clanged their glasses together with a, “Here, here!” After a half hour, they finished eating and leaned back in their chairs. Hunter belched, as did Elias.

“Hunter? Where are your manners?” Kida scolded mildly. “We have guests. Is that any way for you to act?”

Hanna chuckled and said, “Don’t worry about it, Kida. Boys will be boys. Besides, that meal was excellent. In some places on the surface, a good belch after a meal is taken as a compliment to the chef.”

Hunter looked at Enoch, and then Hanna. “I like this girl,” he chimed. “She’s different.”

“In more ways than you realize,” Nathanael chimed, “Hanna is unique in ways you can’t comprehend.” A moderate belch slipped out. “Oh, excuse me,” he apologized.

Just then, Enoch let out a huge belch and Kida looked at him with some disdain. “Oh, excuse me. I was just complimenting the chef,” he said humorously. Suddenly, spontaneous belches erupted from Elle, George, and Ben, causing Kida to shake her head with embarrassment. Emma broke into laughter that came from her toes. Her laughter was contagious and within moments, Kida was laughing as well as everyone else. Emma’s laughter then caused a huge belch to erupt from her. Kida playfully punched Emma in the arm.

“Oh, stop it!” Kida laughed. Emma laughed so hard that tears started to flow.

Then Nathanael burped again and Hanna let out a belch that came from her toes that seemed to go on forever. When it was done, she said, “Man, that felt good; my compliments to the chef indeed. That was an excellent meal.”

The laughter died down and Andrew looked at Hanna, saying, “Where did that come from? I didn’t know such a small girl could let out such a large belch.”

Hanna chuckled, saying, “It’s a gift. Sometimes it just comes, like just now. When it does, all you can do is let it out. Better out than in, you know.”

A roll of laugher spread around the table. “You sure are funny for such a small woman,” Emma commented as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “I haven’t laughed like that in an age.”

“Good,” Hanna replied. “That means I didn’t waste my time. I could sense that you needed to laugh. In fact, it seems all of you were in need of a good laugh.”

Electra looked across the table at Hanna and asked, “You could sense that?”

Hanna’s face became more sober in appearance as she answered, “Yes. It’s unnerving to be able to sense things about people like that. I don’t like it, but I’m sure it’s because of the telepathic gift I have. I find that I’m using it without realizing it.”

Electra closed her eyes, touched Hanna’s mind for a moment, and then backed away. Opening her eyes, she announced, “You have one of the largest telepathic potentials that I have ever encountered, Hanna. It’s phenomenal; and it seems that your mutation is kicking it into a higher level than before your mutation. When you master that potential, there’s no telling how powerful you may become. No wonder the Emperor wants you dead. You’re a direct threat to his rule and mastery of the universe with this gift.”

Hanna slumped back in the chair and sighed. That was news she didn’t want to hear. “I never wanted this power, or this position,” she declared softly. “But this has been my lot since I was born. I ran away from it and it hunted me down to the ends of the earth. I’ve never wanted to be king, queen, or any type of leader. All I ever wanted was to know the truth. But now, the people that escaped to Acheron see me as some sort of messiah, which I am not. I’m just a pawn in this game. I’m moved not of my own accord but by the will of the Almighty Father. At times, I find myself wishing that I never started looking for lost civilizations, but that lasts only a moment. Ancient civilizations are in my blood. They draw me like a moth to the flame. I cannot help myself. For the moment, I’m driven in the wind and know not what will come. I don’t know what to do anymore.” Silence fell over the group as Hanna spoke her heart, saying, “The Emperor is so strong. He has such terrible power and a will to use it with impunity. My torture and mutation should be ample evidence of that. He has Selina and means to turn her by any means necessary to make her his queen. She’s my life. Our souls and minds are fused together. I can barely sense that she is alive, but I know not where and what I do sense is a fading sense of hope. I swore I would come for her, but I know not how to do it. I don’t know what the layout of the city or the Black Fortress is. Shit, I don’t even know how to reverse what the Emperor did to me. I need help; a lot of help.” Hanna’s grief at her inability to do anything showed on her face.

Elias put his hand on Hanna’s shoulder and said softly, “I think I speak for everyone here when I say that you have your help. Selina is the blood of Kida and Electra, which makes her family. We’re all family here, you included, in ways that you can’t even comprehend yet.”

Hunter banged his fist down on the table, rattling it as his anger blossomed on his face. “She needs our help and I’m tired of hiding on this island from the Emperor,” he growled. “It’s our blood that’s supposed to sit on the throne of Amacia, not his. Dad, how much longer are we going to stay hidden here while the Emperor threatens the world and galaxy with total destruction? How much longer are we going to wait while the Emperor moves once again to corrupt one of our bloodline with his evil?”

Hanna looked at Hunter’s outburst with curiosity, and then at Enoch as he leaned back in his chair. “Patience Hunter,” Enoch said softly, pressing his fingers together in front of his chest, “The time is at hand. But our little sister first needs to know who she is and what she needs to do.”

“Why do you keep saying that I’m of your bloodline?” Hanna asked in a puzzled manner. “You mentioned it in the healing chamber after I woke up. How can this be?”

Nathanael watched with great interests as Enoch leaned forward and looked Hanna in the eye. “Surely, you can see that we are related,” Enoch declared, “When I look into your face and you look into mine, it’s like we are looking into a mirror despite your mutation. However, I have a way of concretely showing you that you are indeed of our bloodline. I showed it to Nathanael while the healer worked on you, so he believes me. Are you sure you really want to know?”

Hanna nodded, saying, “I have to, all of it including this extra chromosome business. I have to know what and who I am.”

Enoch smiled slightly, saying, “Very well, let’s return to the healer to educate you.” Enoch rose and picked up Hanna. The rest of the family rose and followed Enoch and Hannibal into the tower machinery.