The cults of Malificus

By

Indraneel Fadnavis

RIGI PUBLICATION All right reserved No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by Photostat, microfilm, xerography, or any other means or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

The Cults of Malificus By

Indraneel Fadnavis Copyright Indraneel Fadnavis 2022

Originally published in India

Edition:1 ISBN: 978-93-91041-49-6 Printer: Repro India

Published by RIGI PUBLICATION 777, Street no.9, Krishna Nagar Khanna-141401 (Punjab), India Website: www.rigipublication.com Email: [email protected] Phone: +91-9357710014, +91-9465468291

“To AAi, who mAde my dreAms come To reAliTy”

CONTENTS 1.

Prologue

5

2.

Only a (Not) normal day - By Kyle

7

3.

The doomsday god of dreams - By Lisa

10

4.

A bunch of Raccoons with a disco ball - By Kyle

13

5.

The reason for the disco ball - By Lisa

18

6.

The suspense (Not so much if you can read this chapter) - By Kyle

20

7.

The 5-star tour - By Lisa

23

8.

Dueling on surfboard - By Kyle

25

9.

The attack of the giant Hamsters - By Lisa

29

10.

Disconnected to... another potential destroyer of my life. Hooray! - By Kyle

32

11.

Black and Black and Black and a TON of ice - By Lisa

35

12.

Wake up, go slap (Not exactly slap but you get the idea) - By Kyle

38

13.

Way too much going on… - By Lisa

41

14.

Infiltration is my new hobby – By Kyle

44

15.

Finally, not the end - By Lisa

47

16.

Epilogue

50

Prologue How will one be able to describe the start of the war that tore apart the world and put it back again. That was the Cyrus War. The most destructive war the Aether has ever seen. I have tried to compile the reports, the most important notes of all. The Veracity twin’s diaries. I have decided to compile these records above all the other ones available to me because the war revolved around them. Before we look at their records, we need to get some things straight. Many people ask me, ‘Why were the Veracities so special?’ and it is a fair question. The reason they were so special is due to their history and not because of their powers, as everyone thinks. It is all because of their great grandfather, Austin Veracity. Austin, he was my friend. He was the first one to wage war upon Cyrus’s tyranny. Before the Open Age, maybe only a thousand years ago, Cyrus’s swift blitz overtook the Aether and forced the Council of R to disband. His Kenai, the deadly dark assaulters, captured the Aether in a matter of months. We all had to go into hiding. Shamefaced and discouraged. We were all planning to give up, but Austin took charge and decided to do a frontal assault. He was the general shoring our troops, our disheartened, just defeated troops. Us. He was the one who increased our confidence. He planned, so we wouldn’t charge to our deaths. He, his son, and his grandson wanted revenge. Of course, this news came upon to Cyrus’s ears and he sent his Kenai onto us 5|P a g e

again to flush out the remaining of us. This time, though, we were prepared. Austin had sent his grandson, Seybold to be disguised as a Kenai in Cyrus’s army. Seybold, as soon as he got this information, came back to our hideout, and told Austin all about it. Soon, the Kenai arrived, but found no one in our hideout. They decided that the information given to Cyrus was false and went back. We all had shifted hideouts by then. We decided that if there was ever a time to attack Cyrus, it was now. We gathered our remaining weapons and launched a frontal assault on the Kenai, who were on guard at the Aether Paradise at that time and won and took it back. Cyrus, furious, launched a large-scale attack against us. But we held our ground. As we were winning, we found out Cyrus’s true motive to attack the Aether. Halfway through the battle, all Kenai charged at Seybold and Austin. The rest of us were frozen by Cyrus’s icy powers. He came in himself and picked up Seybold, while Austin was put in a prison. He carried them both and left the Aether untouched. We haven’t seen them ever since… So, imagine my surprise, when… let’s not spoil the report. Read on. Report compiled by Executive in the Council of R, Mr. Flob Leven.

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Only a (Not) normal day - By Kyle

I never wanted any of this. “What?” you may ask. Well, after you get into the book you will understand. While reading this book, at any point of time if you find that something like this has happened to you, then stop reading. But if nothing has happened then consider yourself lucky and read on.

My name is Kyle Veracity. I’m 11 years old. A standard 11-yearold boy would be worried about things like homework, video games and hanging out with friends. Not me. I worry about the fate of the world, trying not to die and other such stuff. This is the story of my life. My life which was torn apart by this specific incident. Don’t get me wrong, it was death-defying and dangerous, but that’s what a Malificus does. Until a few weeks ago, I was a normal kid, well normal enough for me, and worked in the Roman part of the museum part-time. I also used to go to a national school with my twin sister Lisa, you see we are orphans. Our mother died last year in a freak fire which started out of nowhere, and we never knew our dad, he never visited us, nor do I have any memories of him. Our mother used to change the topic hurriedly whenever this subject was brought up, but what I could gather was that his name was Seybold and he lived where no one could find him-with the dead. Otherwise, 7|P a g e

we do not have any aunts or uncles that we know of, nor do we know our grandparents. We live in our mother’s rented apartment. We lived life how we wanted to but like everyone I had a huge problem… Gacky. Mr. Gack Jack the museum director and the biggest bully in my life. He… well the first thing that happened as soon as I entered the museum, that day will show you, his ability to bully. “Veracity, shirt tucked, tie straight, pay cut “He screeched. “Okay sir” I muttered wishing to obliterate him on the spot. In the interest of money, I did not do that. “Please sir may I talk to you” asked a man, whose face was mostly covered in bandages apart from his eyes which were a deep shade of green, in heavily accented English to Gacky. “Sure, thing sir” He replied.

Things were normal until Lisa and I sat down for lunch in the cafeteria. A man with his face bandaged came and told us “Mr. Jack would like to see you now; would you please follow me”. “What’s Gacky got to do with us now?” Lisa whispered to me in disgust. I kept pondering things: why was Gacky suddenly interested in me? If he wanted me, he would have come, he never missed a chance to humiliate me. What did I do wrong? “Could you please wait in this room until Mr. Cy- I mean Mr. Jack comes to meet you “he said. I was so deep in thought that I hadn’t noticed which floor we were on. “Where are we” I asked Lisa, who had never been to Gacky’s office. Lucky her. “The terrace, that’s where he took us. I thought you knew 8|P a g e

where we were” she replied. “We are on the wrong floor” I said starting to panic. I tried the doorknob. ‘Locked’ I said in disgust. Suddenly gas started pouring from one of the vents in the room. Somehow, I knew it was sleeping gas even though it didn’t affect me. It did affect Lisa though but for some reason it didn’t go into effect right then. We heard movement outside and I told Lisa to pretend to be asleep. I felt a metal rod near the spot where we were, I picked it up for I thought it could be used if things got sticky. “They are asleep, master.” A raspy voice called. “Good work Nekdrawl, inject them” said another voice. Even though it was not very scary for some reason I was filled with deep fear, I looked at Lisa and she was also trembling. “Thank you, sir, right away sir” said who I assume was Nekdrawl. Nekdrawl came in, I couldn’t see his features, and as he was just about to inject me, I brought the rod on his nose, I was scrawny and weak but somehow, I got the power to break the nose of Nekdrawl. He fainted while the other guy started to run, I quickly took one of the two injections in his hand and threw it in the direction of the other guy, it was a hopeless shot, but it somehow pierced him on the leg. He screeched and shouted. Then turned at us and called “You have made an enemy today, Kyle Veracity. Just beware” and he jumped of the building. Me and Lisa both started blacking out and the last thing I heard was an unfamiliar voice saying, “Pick them up let’s take them to the council, we need to see if they are the ones.” I felt someone picking me up and the world turned blank. 9|P a g e

The doomsday god of dreams - By Lisa

After the world turned black, I was pulled into another dimension, you guessed it, dreamland or whatever it is called. “Hey kid, remember me?” said a voice. “Yep, I would not forget that voice, that you Mr. Cy- the spooky injection god.” I spoke. “I am Cyrus, the doomsday god of- “he was ranting while I guessed “Dreams” “Not dreams, you little ant, nightmares”. “Mares that run in the night?” I asked him even though I knew what a nightmare was. I did that just… well maybe just to annoy him. “Urgh, did you not learn anything at that building, what do you call it nowadays… I think something like school or something” he told “School” I corrected. “The words these days, humans are creating too many words too many, too many to remember” he complained. “But if everything is finished, all words, then none will have to remember, the brain power will be finished, humans will be like they were in the ancient times” he chuckled. “So, you plan to make humans grunting and groaning fools?” I asked. “Exactly at last someone understands, most of my servants only think of human meat being eaten and the others are humans. I hope you will soon be one of them.” On that happy note, I woke up. I was lying in a room with a wallpaper of Pokémon, a gaming device, and many other awesome things. I was too miserable to notice even the snacks on the table and the amazing background music. I was not sure what I was going to do now or 10 | P a g e

where I was. Suddenly I remembered Kyle and turned and didn’t see him. I cursed myself for being selfish and not knowing where the only person in my life that was important and had ever been kind to me, was. A person entered; whoever it was I couldn’t see his face. “This place is amazing Lisa” Kyle exclaimed a second later. Overjoyed I asked him “Where were you?” “I was here and about an hour ago I woke up, went out to check the place. They have a cafeteria with anything you want, personalized rooms, vending machines where you can get things for free, and a library of all the books in the world all for free, they also have a room for gaming and a video game arcade” he squealed in excitement. Eh! Standard Kyle behavior. This what he does all the time, speed run through stuff and miss everything important. Even though, all these things did sound hyped up, but the real question was “Where are we Kyle” I asked. “I don’t really know “he said “But what I know is this was not here when I entered the room” he said gesturing to a noticeboard near the bedside table. On it was clearly a notice for us. WHEN THE CLOCK DINGS AND SOMEONE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR, APPEAR IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL. WARNING: WE ARE WATCHING YOU, ONE WRONG MOVEMENT AND SAY BYE TO THE WORLD. Sincerely, The Council of R

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“Who gives a death threat and then says sincerely and what is this council thing they are talking about and who are they?” I was filled with questions. “Whoa, Flash chill, I have the same questions as you but have patience “Kyle said. He was right and I was rewarded for my 1 second of patience. Just then a clock rang, and someone knocked on the door. Things were gonna get spicy. Though, I wish they didn’t.

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A bunch of Raccoons with a disco ball - By Kyle

I opened the door and first thing I saw was a short portly old man, dressed like a waiter, walking towards us. ‘Do you think he is coming to get us’ I asked Lisa. ‘Yes, he is, and I think he is trustworthy; waiters are trustworthy people most of the time.’ ‘How do you know that?’ I asked. ‘I have my sources’ she said laughing. ‘Please follow me ma’am and sir. The Council of R has summoned you’ said the waiter quietly, as though someone was spying on us. It didn’t occur to me then but maybe, just maybe, someone was spying on us and even though someone had tried to inject me and my sister I wasn’t gonna tell anybody just yet. ‘Yes, sir but we need more info about this place, who live here, why are we here and who are you.’ Said Lisa in her rapid-fire round of questions. ‘Whoa, steady their kid, I will answer all of your question once the council checks you’. I was starting to get tense about this council thing. ‘What is this council you are talking about, and can you please tell me who are you?’ I asked him. ‘Bob Hald at your service and I am talking about the council of R, who you will shortly meet and another thing, unless I am very much mistaken you are the Veracities’ Bob said, with a tone of grudging respect. ‘How do you know that we are Veracities’ I asked suspiciously. ‘Oh! That the 13 | P a g e

council will tell you, but one thing is for sure, Kyle, Lisa, your father is alive’ he said and without another word took us through a lavish hallway, which was for some reason covered with blankets and cloths made of wool, into a meeting chamber place that for some reason had a disco ball. I looked around and saw that emeralds and Rubies the size of footballs covered the walls. A marble table was in the center of the room with a diamond the size of a book in the center. I was astounded by the fact that me, a person who never had a lot of money was in a room filled with precious jewelry. ‘How did that guy know we are the Veracities and what was he talking about dad being alive’ Lisa asked, completely ignoring the décor, and voicing my doubts. ‘I don’t know but hold still, I have a feeling that something is going to happen soon’ I said. At that point in time, I didn’t know how right I was. Suddenly, the disco ball started spinning and a few songs started playing. A shadow appeared and out came a…. Panda, who told us that we were awesome, and we had to go and transported us to a spaceship which took us back home and nothing else happened, end of story.

As you may have recognized that the above account is not true. I would have loved if that version of events had happened as it would have saved a load of trouble going ahead but here’s the true account. A shadow appeared and out came… a raccoon. Seriously after all this suspense all I got was a raccoon. ‘Greeting Kyle and Lisa, Let’s 14 | P a g e

do the boogie woogie doogie. Welcome to the Aether Paradise, the home of the cults of Malificus headed by the Raccoon Hab, the great. Oh! Sorry didn’t notice your age, I am used to small children.’ Spoke the raccoon in a sing song voice. ‘I am Hector, Hab’s senior assistant and this here is Flob, his junior assistant’ he said gesturing to thin air. ‘Ummm OK, but where is Flob’ Lisa asked pointing to the thin air to which Hector was pointing. ‘Dang it, Flob when I say your name that’s your cue’ he shouted. ‘Sorry sir,’ said a rather sophisticated looking raccoon. He wore a suit and a tie. ‘I was too busy trying to look sofsticaded sir’ said Flob with a grin. ‘Sophisticated, but whatever’ he turned his attention back to us. “The great Hab will be seeing you soon.” “I am already here you imbeciles” a raccoon who I swear was not there a second before. He wore a top hat, and, for some reason, there was a fly attached to his shirt with a leash “Do I have the honor of meeting the new generation of Veracities?” he asked with that same tone of grudging respect Bob had used. ‘Ok this is enough’ I said finally cracking. ‘I need to know where I am now. ‘Flob will give you both a tour of Aether Paradise and I will answer all your questions’ Hab said, his face a mask of an emotion I hadn’t seen in a long time, concern. The concern looked so genuine that I got reminded of my mother and a father I never had. My eyes were starting to become watery. ‘Now your questions please.’ Said Hab deep in thought. ‘I have many questions but answer them one by one.’ I told Hab. ‘First of all, what is this place and why are we here?’ I asked. ‘I already told you this 15 | P a g e