Red Leaves and the Living Token - By Benjamin David Burrell Page 0,2

up from his back, sprouting a halo of decorative leaves behind his head.

"Petchu, Petchu!" Frezen, playing on the floor behind Nemic, imitated the sound of a gun with his mouth as he aimed a toy animal up at an older boy face.

"Stop it." Bedic, the older boy, scolded as he snatched the toy from Frezen's hand. "I'm trying to read." He turned back to his book resting open on a small child sized table.

SLAM! The thick wood door to the room burst open spilling the elderly School Master in his flowing yellow and brown robes into the room. Blood dripped from saturated pools collecting in his robes. Open wounds wept from his neck and face. As he stumbled further into the room, he held up two objects in his arms; a large book, and a small metal chest with a key hole.

"Master!" Nemic jumped up and rushed to his side, supporting him. "What happened?" He pulled at the heavy book and chest, trying to ease his burden, then turned to the older boy. "Bedic, get some water."

The School Master grabbed Nemic by the arm, looking him in the eye. "Nemic, stop fussing and listen to me. Someone is coming!"

Nemic glanced back at the door, alarmed.

"I have to ask you to do something for me, and we don't have much time," He continued.

"Of course," Nemic answered.

The School Master stumbled over to the table where Nemic had set the book and chest. He looked up at Nemic but didn't speak.

"Tell me!" Nemic demanded.

The school master shook his head and looked away. "I never wanted to put this on you. I'm so sorry. I should've prepared you at the least."

"Prepared me for what? Who's coming? " Nemic asked.

"Valance," The School Master mutter almost to himself as he sat down. "There was so much anger when he left. The students were divided. Perhaps I could've handled it better. But, he saw too much, things that students aren't allowed to see. And now he's come back for the Token."

The School Master's mind flooded with memories. The day Young Valance left the school played over and over in his mind. He'd gone down the secret path to the Temple as he did every six months to keep his responsibilities. How could he have known Valance was hiding in the bushes watching him as he took the Token out of his robe to open the temple pathway.

Valance saw everything. The Token shining in his hand. The stone Archway opening up out of nothingness as soon as the Token was revealed. The stone pathway was only visible by looking through the archway. He never thought a student would violate the path by following him through the archway.

The School Master picked up the small metal chest from the table and held it in his gaze. "He'll kill you for it. He'll kill your family for it." He struggled to read Nemic's reaction but couldn't. That was another Botann frustration. Nemic's face remained impossibly smooth, revealing nothing of what went on inside. "I'm sorry I have to ask you to do this." He grabbed Nemic's wrist. "But you must do it. There's no time, and there's no one else. You must do everything in your power to keep it away from him."

Nemic stared at the metal chest. The School Master put it down and lifted the book. On the cover was an illustration of the Token, the shining object that the School Master had taken out of his robes to open the archway. It was a small plant with a round stone holding its roots and a bird wrapped around its trunk. "This book will answer your questions. I'm sorry there isn't more time." He told Nemic as he pushed the book and the metal chest over to him.

"Take the children and go through the back passageway." He got up from the table and herded Nemic towards the back of the room.

Footsteps clanked in the hallway outside the study. The School Master turned to the now closed door. The footsteps stopped. He turned back to Nemic and yelled, "GO!"

The door crashed in. Two towering Zoen soldiers in full armor charged into the room, long swords drawn.

The School Master threw up his robes and pulled a large dagger from a belt sheath hidden underneath. The dagger's blade shimmered with a blinding white light, filling the room.

The closest soldier lunged and struck the School Master before he could get his dagger fully up to block. "Aaah!" The School Master cried as the