Guardian of Ailos (eBook)

Michael B Foss (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
192 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
9798317818456 (ISBN)

Infos

When best friends Nelson and Syd discover an ancient book hidden in a mysterious cave, their ordinary pre-teen lives are turned upside down. Nelson wanted to dismiss it all as a fantasy, but his heart wouldn't let him. He heard the words and saw the power. He didn't know how a couple of normal kids could stop an angry dragon, but then again, maybe Syd wasn't so normal after all. And there was no way he was letting her go alone. A tale of friendship, courage, and discovering that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

Michael B. Foss is an Austin-based author who longs to bring magical worlds to life, inspiring kids in a world that is often bleak and painful.

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When best friends Nelson and Syd discover an ancient book hidden in a mysterious cave, their ordinary pre-teen lives are turned upside down. Syd found joy in exploring every inch of the forest behind their apartment complex. For her, there was nothing better than the thrill of adventure a feeling Nelson never quite understood. He'd much rather stay home and read books or play video games. At least then he could push pause when things got scary. Kind of like the moment Syd opened the dusty old book and started quoting strange poetry. Guardians, dragons, hidden realms? Nelson wanted to dismiss it all as a fantasy, but his heart wouldn't let him. He heard the words and saw the power. He didn't know how a couple of normal kids could stop an angry dragon, but then again, maybe Syd wasn't so normal after all. And there was no way he was letting her go alone. A tale of friendship, courage, and discovering that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

Textauszug

Chapter 1:
The Cave

Nelson’s flashlight danced across the cave wall. Dust sparkled in the heavy night air, and flecks of old sandstone floated around him. His heart raced with a mix of excitement and anxiety coursing through his veins.

“Nel, look at this!” his best friend, Syd, whispered. Her voice trembled with enthusiasm.

Nelson couldn’t help but notice Syd’s countenance. She only stood about two inches taller than Nelson, but in the midst of the magical cave, she felt larger than life. And although she wore her usual adventure outfit consisting of blue jean overalls and a blue striped shirt, which clashed perfectly with her black, high-top shoes, Syd looked like a fearless explorer.

Nelson also wore his usual adventure outfit made up of whatever he found earlier in a pile of unfolded clothes when Syd had snuck over to his home, interrupting his bedtime routine. He was still feeling slightly insecure about his choices as he looked down to see a pair of mismatched shoes and a wrinkled t-shirt with a faded superhero logo. His wild, curly red hair stuck out in all directions, a stark contrast to Syd’s neat bun.

At the beginning of summer, Syd found the deserted cave while exploring the forest behind their apartment complex. Night after night, she would show up at Nelson’s bedroom window and beg him to come with her. He had refused for the better part of a month, but that night, he finally gave in. Against his better judgment, he found himself sliding out of bed, crawling out of his apartment window, and following his friendly neighborhood “Indiana Jones” into the forest.

Nelson hung back, his mind racing with all the reasons they shouldn’t be there. Sneaking out was bad enough, but getting lost in an abandoned cave? That was a whole new level of trouble.

“Are you sure about this?” Nelson muttered, his freckled face scrunched with worry.

“Come on, scaredy cat. This has got to be the greatest discovery of all time!” Syd’s enthusiastic whisper echoed across the cave.

Part of him wanted to run, but another part—the part that always gave in to Syd’s adventures—urged Nelson forward.

“I’m not scared,” Nelson whispered back. “I’m just . . . being cautious.”

Syd was standing at the center of the room next to a lone, slender column of stone. Atop it sat something that looked like an old book—large, wrinkly, and bound in black leather. The knot in Nelson’s stomach tightened. He ignored it to appease his friend.

“Scaredy cat,” Nelson muttered to himself. “Whatever.”

As he stepped farther into the cave, he saw a faint, blue light glowing from the center of the book. Curious, he tiptoed his way over to Syd. Nelson’s eyes widened as he made out the details of a small gemstone. Perfectly shaped like a diamond, it couldn’t be larger than a silver dollar. And something inside of it swirled, making it look alive.

A powerful urge to take the stone drew him in. Beautiful. No, majestic, he thought. His body could barely hold back. The intensity of the stone pulled at his chest. He shook his head trying to shake off its power, but it wouldn’t release him. His stomach turned inside of him. All of sudden something felt off, like he was looking at something too pure, too sacred.

Nelson wanted to resist. He tried to. But like a moth to a flame, he leaned his face closer. Pain shot down his throat and his face paled in sheer terror. In her excitement, Syd blew a mouthful of dust straight off the cover and into his mouth. He sucked down the ancient particles of rock that went to war with his lungs, resulting in a loud coughing fit. All of the former intrigue surrounding the gemstone vanished in an instant.

Meanwhile, Syd started to reach for the book. “I bet this thing is a thousand years old, at least!”

Nelson shook his head, wheezing. “Syd,” he gasped between labored breaths, “we really shouldn’t be touching things. We don’t know anything about this place.”

Syd listened and withdrew her hand. “You’re right,” she said. “We don’t know anything about this place.”

“Thank you.” Nelson breathed easily. “Let’s just—”

“But . . . How much you wanna bet this is some kind of ancient history book? It probably has all your answers inside.” Syd returned to the book and took hold of the cover.

“No, no,” Nelson begged. “Please.”

“It’ll be fine. Stop worrying so much. It’s just a book.” Syd placed her free hand on Nelson’s shoulder. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

A loud CRACK sounded outside of the cave. Nelson jumped almost out of his mismatched shoes. A massive pulse of energy passed through the cave, sending waves of goosebumps down his back. “Oh no. Eight already?” he asked.

“Happy Fourth of July,” Syd said, slapping Nelson on the back.

“Oh no, Syd.” He rushed over to the mouth of the cave and stuck out his head, waiting for the next explosion. “My mom’s gonna freak, and if she—”

BANG. A second round of fireworks erupted over the trees. Bright reds, blues, and brilliant golds popped and glittered through the branches of the old forest.

“Relax,” Syd said, “the fireworks just started. We’ve got plenty of time.” Nelson shook his head with a sigh. “Trust me,” Syd said, looking up from the old book. “By the time she gets back, you’ll be fast asleep.”

Syd started to lift the book. “But what about your dad?” Nelson said as a sad attempt to distract her. “Won’t he—” Syd paused and raised her eyebrow.

Moments like those made Nelson wonder why she ever wanted to be his friend. She knew he wasn’t like her, but still, she insisted on bringing him along. She knew he would protest and freak out when things got a little too late, but there she was, dragging him along anyway. He couldn’t be too upset though. If it wasn’t for her, he probably wouldn’t have any friends at all. At least, not there.

In an instant, the forest disappeared as Syd took hold of Nelson and pulled him back over by his shirt. His curly red hair bounced and flickered like fire as he stumbled over to the book.

“Look!” Syd held out her flashlight and highlighted some words on the cover, previously unseen due to all of the dust. The sight of it reminded Nelson of the limestone still lingering on his tongue. The letters looked hollow like they were meant to be filled by some sort of coloring that had eroded a long time before. Syd whispered as her fingers traced the grooves, “Hidden Realms and Sacred Paths.”

The blue gemstone set into the cover began to pulse.

“Nope. No way.” Nelson turned to walk away, but Syd grabbed his arm and spun him back around.

“Come on, Nel. You’re telling me you’re not one bit curious?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement, daring him to admit he was intrigued.

Nelson hesitated, torn between his caution and his growing curiosity. “Curious, yes.” He looked down at the book, then back at Syd as he stepped away. “But stupid, no, I don’t think so.”

“Fine,” Syd sighed, “if you don’t want to be here and experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, then you are free to go. But I’m staying,” she paused.

Nelson didn’t like the pause. He knew what was coming.

“And,” she continued, “if I die, well, I guess I’ll die alone.”

Nelson lifted his head in frustration and closed his eyes. Did she really need to be that dramatic? That was how it always started. He’d argue, then she’d give him puppy dog eyes, and inevitably he’d give in. But it was getting late; he could hear the fireworks building in intensity. So instead of wasting time—

“Fine, I’ll stay,” he muttered. Hopefully, that way, they could both get what they wanted: adventure and home before their parents.

Syd smiled, her whole face lighting up.

“But,” Nelson lifted a finger, “if I get one whiff of something crazy or dangerous, I’m out. Got it?”

Syd lunged at her friend and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Got it.”

“Yeah, yeah, ok, that’s enough.” Nelson shrugged her off before his cheeks went full red. Syd let out a quick squeal of excitement before spinning around to open up the book. She flipped a page. Then another.

“Well . . .” Nelson craned his neck to look over her shoulder.

“Weird,” Syd said. “The pages . . . they’re blank.”

“Blank?” Nelson asked, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

“Yeah. Here, look.” Syd lifted the book from the podium.

CLICK. The sound of rocks shifting beneath them filled the cave. “Put it back!” Nelson yelled. He took a few steps back to distance himself. “This is exactly what I was talking about!”

Suddenly, a bright light shot up like a column of fire from the podium. Syd...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 7.11.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Kinder- / Jugendbuch
• ISBN-13: 9798317818456 / 9798317818456