• Chapter 14: The Ghosts of Old Nimbaxos

    The five soon went to a bar and grill in Kimolos Town.
    After a nice late lunch, the two decided to discuss where to go next.
    “Nimbaxos Island is close,” said Valerius. “Perhaps we should go there next—surely someone knows where Erebus went.”
    “I agree,” said Galina. “Aside from being my home island, it’s the eastern edge of the Cyclonades Islands, and practically the gateway to the Ionized Ionian Islands.”
    “Right,” said Rouvin. “Someone must’ve seen where he went.”
    Nauplius paid for the lunch, and Zanthe left the tip for the waiter. After leaving, they soon met up with the sailor who brought the party there earlier, before they met Galina.
    “Ah, you have a new ally in your cause,” the sailor said with a chuckle.
    “Yes,” Galina said with a return giggle. “I’m Galina Thyella.”
    “The Air Wizard of Nimbaxos?” asked the sailor.
    “Of course,” answered Galina.
    “Where are you off to next?” asked the sailor. He had a suspicion where they were going, but he had to know for certain.
    “To my home island of Nimbaxos,” Galina replied, thus confirming what the sailor thought earlier. “I’ll even provide the wind to take us there.”
    The party soon embarked on the ship again. The sailor again raised the sails.
    Galina said a chant that conjured up some winds to make the craft sail for Nimbaxos. It was not a fierce wind to cause seasickness or fear of the ship capsizing, but was a fast enough wind to get it to the destination quickly.
    In half an hour, the ship arrived on Nimbaxos, and landed on the western shore.
    “I’ll have to have you on my ship in the future,” said the sailor with a laugh. “You’d really help my ships deliver cargo in record time.”
    “You flatter me,” Galina replied with a giggle. “Take care.”
    The five soon got off the ship.

    But no sooner had Nauplius gotten off—and he was the last to get off the boat—than did someone from Galina’s hometown of New Nimbaxos rush up to them.
    The person, a young elf boy, panted to catch his breath. He had yellow-tan skin, brown-black hair, and wore clothing dyed in various tones of indigo, blue, and white that was in modern-day Mycenaean style. When he looked up to face the five, his green eyes showed fear for his neighbors and family.
    “Galina!” the young boy said. “Thank the gods you’ve returned safely!”
    Galina immediately recognized him as Macario Earinefos, who often worshipped with her at the temple of Aeolus, King of the Winds. This particular temple was just on the west edge of New Nimbaxos. It was at this temple that Galina learned her first Air element magic spells.
    “Macario!” Galina replied, astonished he had come a long way. “What is the matter?!” She knew something was going on, or why else would Macario run such a long way?
    Macario explained, “Something strange is going on in Old Nimbaxos. A darkness has covered the skies there, and there are nasty ghosts floating about!”
    “Old Nimbaxos?” asked Rouvin. “You mean that old ghost town?”
    “Sounds like it’s a ghost town in a different sense now!” replied Galina. Her attention returned to Macario and she said, “You did the right thing to tell us! This strange event has Erebus’ fingerprints on it, I am certain of it!”
    Galina then told Macario, “Head back to town. My friends and I will take it from here.”
    Macario nodded and obeyed, returning to New Nimbaxos.

    The ghost town of Old Nimbaxos was already eerie by itself. The decrepit buildings and crumbling temple ruins already set a dark tone on the dry, sterile wasteland ground. But now a magically-induced darkness blocked out the light day or night, with a fake moon to indicate night time when night did fall.
    When the five travelers entered within the town limits, they gasped to see what was before them. Malevolent spirits wandered about. Galina recognized them.
    “These spirits,” whispered Galina. “These were the spirits of long dead evildoors. I remember them from woodcuts and other media in history textbooks. Some of them were slain in combat with law enforcers or heroes. Others remained on the run for the rest of their lives till Atropos severed their threads of life naturally. And of course, others were put to death by the authorities—the main means of the death penalty on Nimbaxos Island was through a nitrogen chamber, which makes them lightheaded as the oxygen supply is cut off, until they painlessly asphyxiate. But others who died here probably died from other capital punishment in the past.”
    “Right,” said Valerius, his plasma blade ready. “But for now, let’s find out what awoke the dead so we can send them back to Tartarus!”
    “Understood,” said Galina, getting her staff ready.
    Zanthe got her staff ready as well.
    Likewise, Nauplius got out his hammer, and Rouvin his bow.

    One of the spooks looked and saw the intruders.
    “Hey, we got some live ones here!” the ghost said.
    Another ghost got out what appeared to be his hatchet, the main tool he used to commit his murders in life, and said, “Let’s make them join our eternal party!”
    The ghosts soon floated toward them with a speed similar to a mild windstorm.
    Valerius swung at them with his plasma blade, but they remained in a wisp form for a short time until they reconstituted.
    Nauplius had a similar problem when he swung his hammer. When they were squished between the ground and the hammer head, they did an accordion impression each, even with the sound effect, until they stuck their thumbs into their mouths and re-inflated themselves.
    “We need to find the source of this,” said Galina.
    “I see a beam of magic shooting up from the center of town!” said Rouvin, pointing in that direction.
    Surely enough, a beam of evil magic shot up and supplied the darkness and evil to wake the long dead malefactors. The beam was magenta, with a maroon spiral circling up it like a corkscrew.
    The five travelers raced toward the center of town, swatting away any specters that might interfere.
    In the center of the ghost town was a dark crystal ball on a pole, with the beam of foul magic shooting straight upward from it.
    But some even stronger wraiths blocked their path to the crystal ball. Valerius tried to slash at them, but they would not vanish, unlike the other spirits they encountered. Not even for a brief moment would they turn into wisps of mist.
    “I’ll take a chance with this!” said Galina. She pointed her staff’s orb toward the dark orb and chanted a Mycenaean chant, and a small tornado swirled around the orb, knocking it off the pole.
    The crystal ball shattered, and the dark magic beam extinguished. The darkness soon scattered to reveal the mid-afternoon sky. The spirits then vanished. But even if it were night, without the dark magic to empower them, the spirits could not stay on the mortal plane for very long.
    Old Nimbaxos was quiet again.
    “Good work, Galina!” said Valerius.
    “Thank you,” replied Galina. “Let’s head on to New Nimbaxos.”

    It was an hour before sunset when the party made it to New Nimbaxos. New Nimbaxos had a few windmills near the town edge, aside from the Temple of Aeolus. Otherwise, it was a small suburban village with some high technology.
    Macario Earinefos soon ran up, as did some of the people.
    Among them was the Governor of Nimbaxos Island, who was a very good friend of Galina. The Governor, Iepatus Apalivrochi, was a human with peach skin, though just slightly tan, as well as brown hair and gray eyes. He wore a grayish suit and shoes, and also some spectacles.
    “You did it, Galina!” said Macario. “We saw the darkness go away over the old town!”
    “Governor Apalivrochi!” said Galina, politely curtsying before him.
    “Well done, Galina Thyella,” said Governor Apalivrochi. “Thank you for removing the curse over us.”
    “I did not do it alone, governor,” replied Galina. “My friends aided me. And I am aiding them, especially Valerius Magnitis.”
    “What is your quest, Valerius?” asked the governor.
    “I am pursuing the warlock Erebus Tonadi,” said Valerius.
    “Aeolus has spoken of his evil,” explained Governor Apalivrochi. “While you were in Old Nimbaxos, Aeolus appeared to me in a vision at the temple. He said Erebus is planning to use the Forbidden Ritual! And that he has a maiden captive as well.”
    “That maiden is my beloved Delphinia Triantafyllou,” replied Valerius.
    “The healer of Olympalantis?” asked the governor.
    “The same,” answered Valerius.

    “Well,” said the governor, “it is not yet known where Erebus went, but I am sure he is in no hurry, whatever he is planning next. Please, stay a while and rest.”
    “Thank you, governor,” said Valerius.
    “Indeed, sir,” said Nauplius.
    Rouvin and Zanthe also gave their thanks.
    Macario and his family allowed Valerius to stay with them.
    Other people gave lodging to each of the other travelers.
    The party stayed for two days in the town of New Nimbaxos.
    During that time, however, Galina was at the Temple of Aeolus trying to learn the location Erebus went.