The Destiny Of Solaris(Book 2 of "The Planets In Exile")

The Altar Of Demons

Klaus travelled for days, asking directions from the wanderers and villagers, resting for a few hours in between to keep his strength up, just in case. After travelling for weeks, Klaus arrived at a village named Mud Guard. It was a small village but comparatively bigger than the previous ones he had passed through. The village had small streets with mud houses on either side. It was difficult for Klaus to ride along those streets because it was over flooded with people. Their faces were lit with excitement as if they were about to witness something exciting. A fair, perhaps. Klaus tied Alpha to a pole and gave a coin to the kid who was standing beside, to keep an eye on his mount. The kid's eyes were sparkling because that was the first time anyone had ever given him a gold coin. He was delighted which was evident from the look on his face. ' I will take care of this horse, my lord, ' he replied. Klaus tapped on his shoulder and left.

While he was walking along the road, many people dashed him, not intentionally, but accidentally, as they were in a rush. Klaus spotted a lady, who appeared to be in her mid-fifties, sitting in front of her house peacefully, while everyone was running back and forth. She was surprisingly calm as if she was uninterested in what the whole was eager to visit. Klaus approached her and enquired about what was going on? The reason for this activity and enthusiasm.

' These people are fools. Violence makes them feel alive. So that is why they are all in a hurry to witness the violence. '

' What do you mean by " witness the violence'? '

' There is a tournament, in which people fight and may kill each other to win it. And these people, even though weak, enjoy the bloodshed. It gives them a sense of satisfaction watching people fight and kill each other. '

' What do the fighters get by winning? '

' Answers to their questions. There is a seer, who claims that he can see the future of everyone. He speaks of Gods we neither know nor understand. In order for him to see the future, he draws the power from those mysterious Gods, and in order for them to be powerful, sacrifices are needed. All the warriors who fall in the duels fuel his powers indirectly. And the winner gets a chance to ask the questions for which he or she seeks answers. '

' And what do the villagers get from this tournament? Other than satisfaction, I mean. '

' They place their wagers on the fighter who they feel would win the tournament and if they win, they will get huge sum. '

' Thank you for your time. Can you please point me to this tournament? '

' Follow the crowd and it will lead you to it. I hope you are not like the rest of these villagers. It will become your addiction if you don't pay attention. '

' Do not worry. I am here for another purpose. '

Klaus flashed a doubtful smile and followed the crowd. It appeared like the entire village was eager to watch people kill each other. Klaus finally reached the place, and people were wagering money on specific warriors based on their prediction of who might win. Like drinking, this was one of the things that people of this village were addicted to which would certainly ruin their lives. Some people were even willing to risk all the money they earned in their life on something unpredictable. A wave of grief made Klaus think for a while. He wasted a lot of time by staying in Thunder when he could have helped a lot of people in controlling their compulsion for things that would ruin their lives and free them from enslavement. And when Klaus located the warriors who were participating in the competition, he could read that they were all ruthless. They held no value for human life and they seemed to enjoy what they were doing.

Klaus was encountering so many things in his journey, first was to save the citizens of Solaris Prime from the wicked Prince, and now, this town from violence and obsessions. The world was very far from perfect. Toxic people and their toxic habits were like a virus that was infecting the Solaris and if overlooked will soon infect whole the world.

Klaus decided to take part in the tournament but was hesitant because Knightstars, even though skilled, they never showcased their talents among the crowds. They always remain mysterious. But it is needed for Klaus to exhibit his talents to win the tournament as he needed answers to some questions. Also winning would give him a chance to save the warriors from killing one another. So this fight would give him a chance to clear some suspicions, gain clarity and save lives.

In order to join the tournament, every participant had to fill a papyrus form, which briefly stated that whatever happens to them during the tournament is upon them and no one can be held accountable. As Klaus was about to present his consent, a youngster stopped him.

' What are you doing, huh? '

' Taking part in the competition. '

' Are you serious? Did you even look at the monsters who are taking part in the competition? They will crush your head with their bare hands. You are thin, not so tall compared to them, and roughly half their size. '

' Thank you for your concern, ' said Klaus and filled the form. The cloth on which the statement was written was then rolled, stamped, and was submitted.

Klaus turned to the one who stopped him earlier. He looked like a young man in his early 20's. Klaus asked him why was he there.

' Hmm. I took a lot of coins for my mother's treatment. Her condition remained the same, but the debt grew. I need to return the money or else they will kill us. '

' Listen to me very carefully. Wager whatever you have on me, and I promise that it'll make you worthwhile. And when I win, I want you to make a promise for me. Is that understood? '

The boy was confused about why he should bet on someone who has the least chance of winning, but something about Klaus made him believe what he said. He nodded dubiously.

An announcement drew their attention which said, ' The fight is going to commence in thirty minutes. Prepare yourselves, warriors. '

The waiting period provided Klaus some time to think of a solution about how to win the battle without bloodshed. An idea popped immediately into his mind. He asked the boy if there was any forest nearby.

' Yes, there is a one, which would take about five minutes if you walk. '

' Great, take me there. '

' Alright, but why? '

' I need Thalamus leaves, roots of sphynx, and a bowl. '

' You are in luck. I know just the place where you can find them all because we had tried many medicines on my mother whose ingredients were extracted from plants in the forest that I just mentioned. '

' Great. Let's go. '

They arrived at the place on horses so they reached faster than the estimated time. The boy, without wasting any time, got to work and collected all the items that were requested.

' Here are the yellow-colored leaves of Thalamus and red-colored roots of Sphynx. '

Klaus placed both of them in the bowl and squeezed it hard with his hands, and then used a stone to make it into a semi-solid paste. The resulting mixture was in orange colour, which he applied to the heads of his arrows. After applying it to six of his arrows, ' Are weapons allowed in the battleground? ' Asked Klaus.

' Yeah. You can choose a weapon of your choice. '

' Great, then. '

' What is that paste anyway? '

' It is used to induce drowsiness in a person on contact with blood. It'll put them in a sleep state. '

' Isn't that supposed to be cheating? '

' Maybe. But I will do anything to save a person from death, which is what would happen to all the other warriors if they are not stopped. '

' I guess that makes it okay. But why only six arrows? '

' There are only six other participants other than me. '

The boy took another arrow and applied the mixture to its head.

' There is nothing wrong in having an extra. '

Both of them returned and it was only a matter of time before the battle begins. There was an area, where all the warriors were waiting, so Klaus made his way there. Each one of them who was participating was bigger and broader than Klaus, it was as if a lamb was left in a place full of elephants. They tried to intimidate and scare him, but little did they know of his supremacy. Klaus ignored them and stood aside.

The doors to the arena opened grandly and each warrior proudly entered one by one. Klaus was the last one to enter the arena. Klaus thought it was going to be one on one, but everyone gets to fight everyone at the same time. Each warrior was standing along the circumference of an imaginary circle while Klaus was standing at a distance because his weapons were ranged. All of them were roaring at each other to establish their dominance. The weapons they held were monstrous and customized in a way that one proper hit would kill anyone in an instant.

When the battle began, no one showed interest in Klaus because they felt it would be an insult to their glory if they prey on someone weaker than them, this gave Klaus the advantages.

Before anyone could land a blow, Klaus rapidly fired the six arrows to six warriors to their elbows. Five of them promptly started to lose their balance and fell to the ground, but one of them was still standing and Klaus had now become his target. He surged towards Klaus with a huge spiked hammer. Luckily, Klaus had another arrow laced with the mixture. He immediately fired it, which hit the opponent's body a few inches beside the heart. The opponent eventually slowed down and collapsed to the ground by the time he reached Klaus.

The entire crowd, which was anxious to watch people bleed and die remained silent. Not once did the battle had finished in this way before. The crowd was greatly disappointed because none of the fighters they waged on had won and they didn't get to see any violence or blood. It was a short and peaceful fight indeed. Only the guy who helped Klaus earlier had waged on him, and he is the sole owner of the total reward. The guy yelled Klaus's name out of joy.

One of the people came to the arena and asked Klaus to follow him. Klaus understood that it was time for him to meet the seer. The person left after showing him the room, which was entirely dark except for the minimal candlelight. The face of the seer was a blur, but it appears to be disfigured and weird.

' Ah, a non-believer, ' said the seer.

' That depends on the answers you provide. '

' You are on a remarkable journey, but doubts are clouding your conscience. '

' Everyone is on their own journey and face difficulties, experience existential crisis. No offense, but what you just said is generic, which can be applied to anyone. '

' True. But your journey is not your own, it is not self-exploration but a responsibility, a burden which Knighstars have to bear. Another important aspect is, the outcome decides the fate of all life on Solaris. '

' You are convincing, but the question I have is, Will the Chosen One succeed in arriving here and complete the task destined to him or her? '

' I cannot tell you that but if he manages to establish his presence here, you are going to have the greatest responsibility that any Knightstar ever had. You need to stay alive, cause people would need you. '

Before Klaus could ask any more questions, the Seer put out the candles, indirectly indicating for Klaus to leave. When Klaus was about to leave the room, ' Think of me when you need assistance, ' said the seer.

Klaus came out and by that time, the crowd had already cleared, they were disappointed and their lives are ruined as they had lost their savings, but the boy was still waiting, his face lit up with happiness. As soon as he saw Klaus, he ran towards him and hugged him.

' Thank you so much, sir. I don't know what I would have done if it isn't for you. And now I can afford any treatment for my mother. You have done so much for me and I haven't even asked your name. My name is Caleb. '

' I am Klaus and I hope you remember what I asked you to do if I win. '

' I will do anything for you, just name it, sir. '

' I want you to promise me to never participate in events like these. It will only wreck your life. '

' Not only your promise, Klaus. I will cultivate all your values. You are a good man and I intend to become like you, one day. I know it is a long journey, but I will make it happen one day. '

Klaus took out a pendant from his pocket and gave it to Caleb and said,

' Listen, do not spend your money on treatment. Go to the kingdom of the Thunder and show them this. They will allow you inside and then find a woman named Sylvia. If anyone can treat your mother, it is her. '

Caleb begins to sob and Klaus was not someone who was good at comforting hurting souls. After a while, Caleb wiped away his tears and said, ' All my life, it was only me and my mother, no one had even looked at us, and helping was a very distant thing. I don't know who you are, but you helped me with all the difficulties in my life. I may not be able to return the favor, but I promise I would help a person in need whenever I come across one. '

' I can tell that you are a good man, and I believe you intend to keep your promise. Farewell, Caleb. '

' Wait. Where are you going? '

' To the Altar. '

' Woah. The Altar of Demons? '

' Yes. '

' Do you even know how to go there? '

' I can ask for directions on the way. '

' You can never reach it because no one completely knows about it. I know a guy who possesses mysterious collectibles, and if you travel 3 days north from here, you can find him in a place called " The Desert City. " I don't know if he has the map, but as far as I know he would definitely have information. The reason I know all this information is because I had to purchase some vials which are not available here, so he helped me at that time. People call him "The Merchant." '

' Thank you for pointing me in the right direction, Caleb. Stay safe, ' said Klaus and set on his journey.

Klaus travelled for two days with minimal rest and reached a place which he presumed to be "The Desert City. " Because of the wind and sand storm, Klaus could barely see anything. He managed to travel through it for a while after which he spotted a small cottage to his left. He tied Alpha in the stable beside and entered inside. He then realized that it was an inn. Klaus didn't have enough time to take a room and rest for a while. He needs to locate the Merchant, extract information and be on his way to the altar. He could see a lady inside and decided to ask her if she knew about the merchant. The moment Klaus approached her, she said, ' Are you here for The Merchant? '

' How do you know? '

' No one really comes here unless they want to meet him. '

' Can you tell me where can I meet him? '

' He might have already known that someone is here for him. So don't worry about finding him. He'll find you. '

' Alright. '

' You can stay here and eat or rest while you wait for him. What do you want? '

' I'm good. I'll just wait here till he comes. '

' No one knows when he comes. He can come within a few seconds or it might take weeks. The question is, do you have time? Anyways, you cannot wait here for a long time without taking a room. So I insist you take one and pay upfront. '

Klaus agreed and took a room and gave her an extra coin to feed his horse.

Now it is a matter of luck. All he can do was sit and wish that the merchant would come sooner. Klaus wasn't the type who waits for something to happen, but the conditions weren't in his favor. The territory was unknown to him and the sand storm was making it extremely difficult to search for a man who he doesn't recognize. He just hoped that as he goes forward in his journey, everything would become clear. Klaus waited for a few hours, but no one came to visit him. The longer he waited, the less patient he became. He finally decided that if he takes a nap now, then he could travel without sleep, after obtaining information from the merchant.

Klaus slowly wakes up and he could see a person sitting beside him on a chair. He cleared his eyes to see him clearly.

' I heard you were looking for me, ' said the man who was wearing a blue-colored turban. He appeared to be distinct from all the people Klaus had seen. Maybe it was because of his unusual fashion. The vibrant colors of his clothing highlighted him and even in that dim-lit room, he could be seen without any effort.

' Yes. I had been told that you might have information on how to reach The Altar of Demons. '

' I might have. Why do you want to go there? '

' I believe that's not related to you. I will pay you all the coins you need for the information. '

' I do not trade stuff with people until I know what exactly they do with the information I provide. So, you either tell me what it is for or this would be the last time we ever meet. '

' You wouldn't understand even if I wanted to tell you. Just know that it is important for the survival of Solaris. '

' I had dealt with numerous people and traded many ancient artifacts of which you might not have any idea. So do not tell me that this is beyond my comprehension. '

Klaus felt that arguing wouldn't do any good so he decided to let him in on some tiny aspects.

' I'm in search of The Chosen One. My father said that he or she is the key to the endurance of the Solaris. '

' What is your name? '

' My name is Klaus Knightstar. '

' Knightstar..??? '

As soon as the merchant heard Knightstar, he fell on his knees and bowed his head, and said, ' Our ancestors used to serve the Knightstar clan but over time, things changed and we became dealers or traders or whatever. It is my honour that I got to meet a Knightstar and be of service to them. I am sorry for being rude to you earlier and for making you wait. I will tell you the shortest route of how to reach The Altar of Demons. There is a tunnel built underground and no one knows about it. If you travel through it without stopping for food or rest, then you will reach the Altar in five days at most. I will guide you to the tunnel by myself, lord Klaus. Please follow me. '

Klaus had a totally different opinion of the merchant when he first saw him, but now he could see the loyalty which was crystal clear. It was good to see someone who is loyal and trustworthy as they were very rare qualities. He believed that the merchant would guide him in the right way. After travelling through the harsh weather of the Desert City for some time, the merchant stopped and got off from his horse. He took a shovel and started clearing the sand from a specific location. After clearing, there was a door that was secured with multiple locks. The Merchant took out some keys from his bag and unlocked them and said, ' My lord, remember that this is a one-way route. You can go to the Altar from here, but you can never come back here from there. No one knows why. Many tried in the past, but they never made it to the surface. They get lost inside only to become food for whatever is inside or die out of starvation. So if you want to return, you'll have to take the long route or the usual route.

The Merchant handed a map to Klaus which depicted the route to return from The Altar.

' Also, use your food wisely, you will not find anything down there if you run out of your eatables. Here, I have procured something for you to eat. '

The merchant handed over a few bags which consisted of some grains and water.

' I thank you for your service, merchant. I owe you one and I would definitely help you if you ever need any help. '

The merchant bowed and Klaus went inside the tunnel. As soon as he went inside, The merchant locked the tunnel and within a few seconds, it was entirely covered with sand as it was a few minutes ago.

The initial path of the tunnel was slant and was also covered with sand which made Alpha slip and they rolled down together all the way down. When the slant path finally became linear, they came to a halt. Klaus dusted himself from the sand and caressed Alpha to see if he was hurt. The stallion was right as rain. He then got on to it and resumed his journey. The tunnel was extremely dark in the beginning, but as they kept traveling forward, the surroundings were starting to appear to the n***d eye. It must either be your eyes adjusting to the darkness or there must be a source of light.

Klaus assumed the route to be narrow, but on the contrary, it was wide. Even for a moment, he didn't feel like he was inside a tunnel. By the looks of it, it was evident that the tunnel was very old and was not used by any in recent times. At least that was what he thought at that moment. It was covered with spider webs and rats were abundant and of the kind which would eat you alive. Klaus couldn't see any plants below, so it was just prey and predator. One organism hunts another for its survival. And if there was a fight between a human and rats, then rats would definitely win because of their number. After all, one human cannot possibly fight the mischief of rats. Apart from these, there were snakes and many other reptiles lurking in the dark. Klaus noticed everything but didn't really pay attention to them. He kept moving because the journey is long and the more he delays, the more time it takes to reach the destination and more food rations are required to keep up his energy. Also, if he stops for taking rest, there was also a possibility that his supplies might be raided by those little mischievous creatures.

Klaus travelled for a long time, but couldn't keep track of time because everything looked the same. The intensity of light never changed which prevented Klaus from guessing what time of day it was. After a while, Klaus realized that Alpha needed to rest. But he was waiting for the perfect location to come to halt. As he was traveling, Klaus caught sight of two cans which was covered in spider webs partially. He stopped to check its contents. One can consist of food items that were rotten and stank bad and the other consisted of wood and some stones. Klaus thought that someone must have left these behind hoping it would help people who travel through here. His assumption that no one had used these routes in recent times proved wrong. Klaus took the can which consisted of wood and settled at a corner and made a campfire. The fire prevented the reptiles from approaching them. He made Alpha drink some water as he was tired. Klaus drank very little because Alpha is the one who requires energy to travel not him. So he decided to preserve the items.

Two days passed by and they kept travelling. For a brief moment, Klaus even wondered if he was even progressing in the right direction or not. It seemed like a never-ending tunnel or a kind of tunnel that would eventually lead to a dead end. He sometimes was caught in a dilemma whether to keep continuing or to turn back and get out of the tunnel and take the long and original route. But the merchant clearly stated that it was one way and it was not possible to return to the entry point. Klaus was usually deterministic and is never in a dilemma, but the place was so silent except for the sounds made by the creatures that Klaus couldn't think straight. But as he kept moving forward, the place around started to look better as if the source of light was closer than before. The intensity of light enhanced and the surroundings became well lit and looked clean and free from all the organisms. Klaus's confidence started to grow, his faith restored and he now strongly believed that he was moving in the right direction. The walls now looked neat and there was some kind of paintings on them. Klaus got off his horse to have a look at them. From that point onwards, the walls were completely covered with paintings as if they depicting an ancient story. Klaus couldn't understand it because they were written in a language he doesn't recognize, so he was just looking at the pictures which included creatures that appeared to be demonic. But looking at pictures didn't help him frame a general story even.

Klaus then got on to his horse and was then moving slowly and his eyes never left the wall. He kept seeing everything even when he couldn't comprehend anything. And as they kept moving forward, the light grew and he no more felt as if they were underground. At a distance, Klaus could see light, like the light that could be seen at the end of a dark tunnel. A spark of excitement generated in Klaus as if he were achieving something. He moved at a very high speed to get out of this place and to move into the wonderful world outside. Klaus could see that he was nearing the light source and finally he went through it and reached the other end.

There was a moment of absolute darkness and a state of tranquility and then the view that Klaus could see was mesmerizing. The Altar of Demons didn't really look like an Altar for Demons. It was like Colleseum in Rome which appeared to be half destructed, but for Klaus, it was the most beautiful structure he had ever seen other than the palaces of Solaris. The place was like heaven down earth. There were trees greener than those in his kingdom, flowers colorful than those he ever saw, and the smell of the air was as pure as a child's heart and the water was as clear as a crystal. Klaus could see himself on the stallion in the still water. The clear water was like a mirror.

Every little thing about the place felt magical to Klaus. For a moment, Klaus couldn't believe his eyes and his mouth remained speechless. He was awestruck by the beauty of the place he was in. He felt that the journey was worth the destination. At that moment, he felt happy about his father's decision that Klaus was the one who needed to go out, otherwise, he wouldn't get an opportunity to visit this wondrous place.

Klaus could easily spend months exploring and experiencing the beauty of The Altar, but he doesn't have time. Also, he didn't know what to do next. His father wanted him to go to the Altar and there he was. He could either travel forward in search of The Chosen One or wait for him here. Klaus's heart wanted him to choose the latter option, so he decided to wait for a day and if The Chosen One doesn't show up, then he would continue his journey to find him or her.