Hex Cycle III — Secondary Scenes
Tome of The Sixth Sun: Lunacy Trilogy Book III
Author’s Note: This is the latest instalment in an ongoing experimental novel. A full listing of chapters will be given below. However, the author would prefer that readers approach each chapter as if it were the first; The End Is The Beginning Is The End is an apt credo for this fictional narrative.
Island of Kypruz (3033 CE)
Grand Master Zymonh Maguz sat alone in his study, surveying a map and sipping Commandaria wine. Said study was situated inside the reconstructed walls of Castle Kolozz in the coastal city of Lymazz. Ages ago Zymonh’s predecessors had finally succeeded in brokering a lasting peace between the Greco & Turk factions inhabiting Kypruz, which had been divided for too long. The repressive regime of Empress Atharvanh’s Imperium Terrenum had played a large role in this second Enosis (unification).
Zymonh Maguz’ claim to fame lay in his martial prowess during the secessionist rebellion. It was he whom had organized the mercenary paramilitaries better known as the Barbary Bards. Bankrolling them with the immense wealth from his family’s private coffers, he sent wave after wave to infiltrate the continental bastions surrounding the stronghold of Medyuh (Northern Yranh).
A mere three years back, their expensively outfitted crusader battalions had successfully toppled Empress Atharvanh off the Imperial Throne using state of the art weaponry. Nonetheless, some breathtaking revelations came to light. For one thing, it was revealed that Atharvanh and her closest confederates were in league with dark forces far beyond the reckoning of any decent folk. Zymonh Maguz had also pilfered a trophy from Atharvanh’s throne room. Upon his mantlepiece there nestled an object that might appear invisible to the untrained eye. Although its presence became obvious whenever it bent ambient lighting. This so-called colorless pearl was his prize possession and he was inordinately fond of it.
Of course, what he couldn’t comprehend was that this sphere actually contained an extradimensional entity: Bakbukh — Sciencer of the Druuj. Bakbukh was nothing less than the puppet master that tugged at the strings of an already depraved human host. Indeed, possession was facilitated by aberrant behavior, and the Grand Master held just as much if not even more hubris in his heart than the former empress. Bakbukh had bided her time and lain dormant in wait. She was well woven into his background thoughts, through which she secretly called the shots. She now guided Zymonh’s hand over Turkmenz on the atlas’ page, whilst igniting a burning desire to visit it.
Outside the study’s double doors Banneret Zœyh and her lover Zapphoh stood guard. Both battle maids were decorated heroes of the aforementioned campaign. They conversed in a concerned tone. Zœyh said:
“What do you suppose he’s up to? He hasn’t eaten or slept in three days. Nobody has seen him leave his study. He’s been acting strange for some time, but this is a whole new level of weirdness.”
“We must trust that he knows what he’s doing,” Zapphoh suggested. “He has always led us to glory and victory. Though I reluctantly admit that lately his zeal for battle seems to have become very deranged.”
During recent engagements, no quarter had been given nor mercy shown to the remnants of Atharvanh’s Imperial Army. This was unlike Zymonh Maguz, who was wont to grant clemency to fellow humans prior to obtaining the colorless pearl. Yet presently he barged forth from his chamber exclaiming:
“Eureka — I’ve got it! Prepare the Hovercopter. We must make haste to Turkmenz. There is something there that should provide us with an unmatched edge against whatever foes may assail us.”
Darvaza Gas Crater
Six hours later, Legate Lorkh landed the Executive Hovercopter amidst the Karakumh desert. Zœyh & Zapphoh flanked Grand Master Zymonh Maguz alongside a cadre of additional Gardz. As a high-profile public figure, he could never be too careful. In any case, Legate Lorkh remained with the chopper while the rest proceeded on foot. Within fifteen minutes, they reached their destination, though there was nothing remarkable about it. Zymonh Maguz assured them that his compass and GPS coordinates were in line. Nevertheless, they didn’t see anything other than sand, stones, and scruff. The Grand Master elucidated:
“There once blazed a cavernous cauldron hereunder, but centuries ago the local authorities had it filled in with rubble. However, its infernal fires haven’t been quelled. Step back and behold…”
The others did as they were told while Zymonh Maguz splayed the fingers of his palm sinister; the sun shone through his gesture. Matter responded to Magister as the Earth beneath buckled and caved. Then came long tongues of flame that did sprout through the grout and spewed rocks all about. Yet Zymonh’s personal Gardz were quick to raise a containment field that shielded their whole group — as should a good redoubt.
Quizzically, Zymonh instructed them to lower their defences. He explained that he would descend into the fiery pit, alone. Banneret Zœyh sounded off:
“With all due respect, Grand Master, but have you lost your Godamn mind? You’re going to stroll unprotected into that gaping hell-mouth? We cannot in good conscience allow you to do such a thing.”
Speaking through Zymonh Maguz, Bakbukh berated her:
“Ah Zœyh, thou art callous and direct as ever. Still, I tell thee that ye shouldst keep faith in me. For today thou shalt surely see that miracles are well within the realm of possibility.”
This effectively rendered her or anyone else incapable of protesting further. They gasped in unison when Zymonh leapt 66 feet down into the conflagrant Gates of Hell!
Unable to espy him amid those blazes, the Barbary Bards posted above were certain that he must have instantly perished. All the same they waited with bated breath and wondered what was really going on. Zapphoh shared her misgivings regarding the situation:
“I don’t like this one bit. These actions are characteristic of persons possessed by the Druuj. I’ve suspected something similar might be happening to our Grand Master. He hasn’t been himself since acquiring Atharvanh’s artifact.”
Understanding, Banneret Zœyh turned to the Gardz and advised:
“If anything inhuman comes out from there, do not hesitate to shoot it!”
To which they nodded, nervously. Meanwhile at rock bottom, Zymonh’s body melded with the bubbling mud. Despite the searing sensations assailing his senses, he felt inexplicably comfortable. This was because Bakbukh was communing with the chaotic energies swirling around therein. She didn’t want her host to wither, so she used the caked-on clay to form a second skin for him. As it turned out, many disembodied Druuj had converged here following the fall of Imperium Terrenum. They now attached themselves to their mistress with thick coils of ectoplasm.
Zymonh Maguz stood, calcinated by that kiln to resemble a living gargoyle. Embraced by countless Druuj, he levitated until rising overhead of his confounded companions. His outer aspect was terrifying for them to behold. Spooked to no end, the four Gardz let loose incendiary rounds — but they were rather ineffectual against Zymonh’s hardened husk. The Grand Master dove to their center and invisible tentacles clutched each Gardh by the throat. However, Bakbukh wanted them kept alive as vessels for a cadre of her underlings.
That process of absorption and conversion provided enough of an opening for Zœyh & Zapphoh to flee. They sprinted to the copter without looking back. Zœyh signalled Legate Lorkh to lift off. When he inquired after Zymonh Maguz and the rest, Zapphoh summarized:
“Things have gone horribly awry — our Grand Master has become Dregvant!”
Knowing what this meant, Legate Lorkh took them aloft and sped on to HQ. Zymonh Maguz let them leave. After all, he no longer had need of such military machinery.
To Be Continued…
Further Readings
Special shout out to J.J. Pryor for the following article:
