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Chapter 1: Puzzles, Books and Myths

"And that is enough stories for you kids tonight," said the elder teenager to the two children.

"But Leo, we want to hear more about the legend of the golden panther!" said one of the children enviously.

"Yeah, and I want to know what happened to the world," said the other child.

"First off, it's a myth not a legend, Sam; and it's time for bed you have school tomorrow, Clara. That goes for you too, Sam," replied Leo, the elder brother.

Without a thought the children hopped into their own beds on either side of a nightstand. As the lantern burned the imagination of the children's dreams enfolded their minds with the endless tale of the Golden Panther. As the elder brother sat beside them, watching them fall asleep he couldn't help but wonder about the stories himself. Deep inside him, he knew that he would take over his father's bookshop someday when his father retired and take on the world with his novels. As he turned off the lantern, he got up and left the room watching with a smile as he closed the room door behind him.

"One day..."sighed Leo as he walked across the dark passage towards his room. The moonlight filled the bookstore down stairs as he watched over. He knew the next day would be the book store's 54th anniversary. Every year the book store celebrates its time with a special offer of 50% off of any book on the west wing. The book store had been a large well known place throughout the city and grew through these many years.

Leo pressed on and entered into his room, his lantern was already lit on with his new novel he was going to finish up reading that night. The novel's name was 'Into the Light' by Kenred Storm, which to Leo was a very peculiar name. As he lay within his bed, he began to read the tale but soon enough the night took its toll on Leo and he soon fell to rest like all the thousands of men, woman and children within the city.

"This one here, he is the one, halt in the name of the guard!"

"Leave her alone! Get away from her!"

"Back off civilian, this is none of your business!"

"Is this the best you can do? I shall rule it all!"

"Give me back my son"

"Mother!"

"Mother...mother...mother!!!" screamed Leo as he awoke from his dream, the light had entered the room from the morning and his heart raced from the nightmare.

"Was it that same dream again?" said a female voice towards the door.

"Mother, sorry, I...uh...I don't know what it is, it keep on coming into my dreams," replied Leo as he leaned off his bed and wiped his face with his hand.

The mother walked slowly up to her son and sat next to him, "It'll be okay, the physiologist said it is just a recursive dream that you need to relax yourself before you sleep and tell your mind not to have it again."

"But mom, I've tried that," said Leo before realising something as he looked at his worried mother, "Um, but it's getting better now, it's not as long as before and I think it's starting to fade away."

"Well that is a relief, I hope it'll go away soon," sighed and smiled the mother.

"Well," said Leo quickly as he stretched and stood up, "time for breakfast, we have a whole day ahead of us, on this special day."

"Right, well breakfast is downstairs, it's your favourite waffles and syrup," replied the mother.

"Awesome! See you downstairs!" said Leo with excitement.

The mother smiled and got up as she neatened up the boy's room. As she puffed one of the pillows she noticed a few black hairs within the bed. They didn't own a pet nor did any of the family have black or dark hair. She shook her head and wiped the sheets clean from the hairs. As she left the room, the scent of the essence she can put out filled the home with the feeling when her and her husband first bought the bookstore. The smell of white daisies and yellow roses, as if they first bought the place before it turned to be a bookstore. It was a florist back in the day that never got much in the way of business. So the family made a deal to buy the place and turn it into a wonderful bookstore which soon made its name in the city.

"Morning mom!" the children said to their mother as they ran downstairs for breakfast.

"Morning kids, remember to brush your teeth after breakfast and Aunty Feunra wants you guys to help her afterwards," said the mother.

"But mom, we were going to play marbles down by Alex's house," the one child said to his mother.

"There will be 30 silver pieces for you guys, she said," said the mother with a giggle.

"30 silver pieces?!" shouted the children with excitement as they ran to go eat their breakfast.

The mother started to laugh softly as the children ran to have their breakfast.

"Good morning, my love," said a male figure next to her.

"Good morning, darling," replied the mother.

"So Cassandra, it's our store's 50... hmm 50... what was it again."

"54th, my dear, we both are getting a bit old for the store."

"Yeah I guess my memory isn't what it used to be," the father said as he twitched his glasses and pulled a piece of his hair back behind his ear.

"Do you think Leo is ready for this, I mean he is old enough to handle the store by himself," said Cassandra.

"I'm more worried about the other thing."

"Do you mean... the book?" asked Cassandra with a stutter and glared at the father.

"Yes, my love, the book that my father told me to pass onto my son because he would find something more valuable about it," sighed the father as he twitches his fingers while leaning on the railing.

"Well it's time to let our boy finally get what your father wanted."

"I'm just afraid if he goes treasure hunting, he'll..."

"I'm sure he won't go away plus the shop can handle me and you just fine."

"Thanks, Cassandra," he smiled at her, "I guess we'll have to see what happens."

The father walked towards his bedroom, shuffling around in a cupboard just left of the entry within the room. The room was beautifully decorated by the finest carpenter known in the city. This was the father's gift to Cassandra when they first got married, but with all the business and throughout the years it never left the father's mind. Every time he ended that room, a warm hearted feeling came upon him, serving the beautifully innocent moments they always had and always will have. He reached to the top of the cupboard and let down a box with memories and trophies of kind. As he reached into the box he picked up an old book, it seemed handmade and dusty to this age. He blew the dust off the book and opened it to the first page.

"'Towards Tynasi-Euyi' by K. S., to my grandson I leave you this book..." read the father out loud and said to himself, "this is definitely the book my father wanted him to have, but still why though..." The father paged through the book remembering how many times he had read it, the handwriting in the book wasn't his father's hand writing and his father was definitely not any family member he knew about. The father walked out of the room leaving the box on the floor and down into the kitchen where his son was.

"Here son, this is for you, keeping the shop tidy all these years needs a rewards and this one is from my father, your grandfather," said the father.

"Thanks dad," replied the son as he paged through the book, "was this written for me, why?"

"Well I guess my father had a vision you'd use it and he told me you will find its purpose, I believed him when I knew how much you loved reading and I know how much you like puzzles," replied the father.

"And I'll tell you what it is when I've solved it dad."

"Thanks son, this means a lot to me," said the father as he embraced his son.

"Dad, don't worry too much it's not like I'll leave the shop to solve it."

"All puzzles lead to a mystery and all mysteries sometimes need a little more thinking and possibly searching to find the right piece to complete."

"You and your riddles, dad."

"That wasn't me. That was what my father said to tell you."

Leo nodded to his father and looked at the book as he wiped of the remaining dust off the cover.

The children had just finished up their breakfast before going upstairs to brush their teeth and go to their Aunt Feunra's house. They ran past Leo and giggled, as Leo watched he smiled before standing up.

"Well father, I best be getting to the counter, the store will be open soon and it seems we have hungry customers outside," said Leo with pride.

"Go make me proud, son," said his father as he patted Leo on the back.

Leo walked over to the door and unlocked it while turning the sign to open the store. Few people outside came in as he greeted everyone.

"Hello Ms Hartley, good morning Mr Kempton," as he shook their hands and greeted peacefully.

"Hello Leo, my-my have you grown an inch or two, by the way I haven't forgotten," said Ms Hartley as she gave Leo a parcel. Ms Hartley worked up the road for the delivery service in the city, her and her husband have been running the international packaging for over 40 years by now.

"What is this?" asked Leo.

"Oh it must be something special I presume, but I haven't looked at it in over 10 years," smiled Ms Hartley.

"10 years?! You kept this in your house for 10 years? Why?"

Leo was shocked, but very curious, why of today did he receive something that took him 10years to receive. As he looked at the covers he had read what Ms Hartley said to him.

"This is from someone by the name of Kenred Storm," smiled Hartley, "An old but quite handsome man your grandfather worked with in the transport business or something like that, I can't remember that well. However he would always ramble on about Light and another world, like out of a story I once read when I was a little girl."

Leo was shocked by the name, remembering the book he read that night, 'Into the Light' by Kenred Storm. Who was this man, why did he send him this parcel but what he was curious about is what happened to him and where was he now.

"Sorry, Ms Hartley?" asked Leo as Ms Hartley was about to walk past Leo and venture into the book store.

"Yes deary? Is there something else I can help you with?"

"Um..." Leo gulped to get back into reality from his shock, "I uh..."

Leo was interrupted by his father walking and greeting Ms Hartley, "Well hello there Ms Hartley, shall I get you a cup of coffee while you are here on this fine morning."

"Oh no, Michael," laughed Ms Hartley as she gently biffed Michael, the father, on the chest, "I'll be fine."

"Alright then, well Leo how about you round up some customers, we have them at the till already."

"Ah... yes father."

"Wait, you wanted to ask me something Leo?" asked Ms Hartley.

Leo smiled awkwardly and replied, "No its fine, not too important Ms Hartley."

Leo walked towards the till holding his book and parcel underneath his jacket top and placed it underneath the till. Rounding up the customers, Leo worked until the book store became a little quiet. He sat on the chair by the counter and looked at the parcel. The wrapping was ancient and there were no stamps just a name, 'for Leondor M. Wulf on the book store's 54th anniversary'. Leo thought if Ms Hartley had the package maybe he didn't want to give it to his father. There was more of a story behind this and he thought it through. Something inside him, deep down in his heart he knew that the package would change everything and the book he was reading was a part of it. As he raised the package he saw the book's description, it had been glowing gold and silver, the letters of the page unfolded and transformed from 'Towards Tynasi-Euyi' to a distinct 'Your Destiny A-waits'. As he read the last two letters he realised something, "K. S., is that really Kenred Storm?" muttered Leo to himself as he slowly opened the parcel.

As the parcel unravelled itself it showed a golden ball, Leo never cared a lot for money but this was worth a lot. Within the parcel also displayed a note, Leo picked it up and read from it.

'My friend, if you are reading this then I was right, you are the one. This if you believe it or not is the golden eye of the golden panther boy. The legends are true and if you wish to find me and solve my puzzle, you must listen carefully. Tonight is the Equinox, the night where Kerescii is strongest to bring in you. I had a vision about you and all you need to do is read the book. The book will have all the answers I have placed for you. Please Leondor, we need you in Kerescii.

PS do not tell anyone about this note, not even your father. But you need to do this, I believe you will make the right choice. K.S.'

"Is this...real? Kerescii and the myth?" questioned and muttered to himself.

"Did I hear you say myth, hun?" Leo looked up to see his mother looking down at him.

"Uhh, mom hi, na I'm just reading this book," Leo slowly hid the golden eye in his pocket.

"Well you enjoy that, but lunch is in a few minutes so close the shop for lunch and keep the customers out so long," said Cassandra.

"Alright, mom," replied Leo as he stood up and sent the remaining customers out and closed the store.

During the whole day Leo couldn't help but think of the stories he used to read about Kerescii, when he was a child he always would stay up late at night reading the books. He remembered as his grandfather used to bring the books for him, but never has he found the same copies anywhere in the world. The books told of small stories, wars and heroes in Kerescii. It told of tales of the races of anthromorphic animals and how they came to being. In his heart he always knew the stories could be true, he needed to know more and read that book.

As the day went by, Leo grabbed the book and started to read it in his bed. The children were asleep and his parents where in their room reading he thought to himself. As he opened the book he read about the legends and land of Kerescii and how the islands worked. His mind boggled until he finished the whole book. He was confused, what answers were there and where were they. Maybe it was some trick, something that would never happen. Until he dropped the book, the book unfolded a hidden page that was stuck to the end. Leo picked it up and looked at the page, it was a map. But there was a list of instructions or a note left for him.

'You found the page, and now its time for you to leave behind your life. Come find me, it is your destiny Leondor, travel to Kerescii and seek me out. You will find me and I am waiting and expecting you. K.S.'

Leo thought about it over an hour.

"Leave behind my life, my family, my brother and sister?" muttered Leo to himself, "but it is what my heart wants, plus I will be back...and my father did say that I should go if it is to solve the puzzle, and this puzzle is a question: Who is Kenred Storm?'

Leo went to each person's bedroom wishing his final goodbyes, as careful as he could not to wake anyone. But one could not sleep, Clara looked up at her brother and said, "Leo? Is something the matter?"

Leo went to Clara and laid her back down again, "Nothing is wrong Clara, but I shall be gone for a while, but don't worry I'll be back to see you again, just sleep now."

"Alright brother, just don't be gone for too long, I love you," muttered Clara as she slowly fell asleep.

"Goodnight Clara, I'll see you again," said Leo as he got up and backed himself a trip. He looked at the top of his cupboard to find his savings he had earned throughout his life.

"This should help with the costs on the ship," muttered Leo to himself.

Leo packed everything and as he left the house he had a good look back, smiling at the midnight glow on the bookstore. He knew that this trip was going to be long but it would be worth it. Leo walked towards the shipyard as morning broke out, the sunrise raised above the sea horizon. The shipyard just opened and Leo approached the shipmaster.

"I'd like to buy a ship strong enough for a long trip and a crew that would guild me to his place," asked Leo as he placed the map in front of the shipmaster.

The shipmaster smiled and chuckled, "Ai my hearty, with the price I will guide ye."

Leo through all the money he had in front of him and smiled, "I'm sure this will be enough."

The shipmaster smiled counting the money, "Welcome aboard lady, the Queen Riddick and me and my crew are under your service."

The shipmaster guided him to the biggest ship there was, it was going to work and Leo knew this was his destiny.