David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb by T.C. Crawford (tools of titans ebook .txt) 📕

stories about their youth and different worlds. David spoke of the world he knew and came from, one filled with cars and massive steel buildings towering like mountains into the skies. He told her about the varied beliefs and religions, the different nations and cultures, and of the accomplishments he knew of each.

“And we have these machines that allow us to fly all over the world in hours, we call them airplanes.” Erin stood in amazement at the descriptions David spoke of, imagining the wonders of this world he spoke of so casually.

“That must be amazing!” she whispered, barely able to comprehend the sights that David was describing.

“Yeah, it is pretty amazing, but it’s not all good.” he continued. “You see, instead of focusing on all of our similarities, we focus on our differences and it has caused countless wars and battles. We use our great technologies to destroy one another, in hopes that one of us will come out victorious and overcome the other’s beliefs and values.

“We are almost always at war…there is always killing and fighting going on somewhere in the world, even in our own country. We do terrible things to each other….” He grew quiet and started prodding the burning coals with a small stick he found nearby.

“David, just because your people may be like that, doesn’t mean that you are” she said, looking deep into his eyes. “I have only known you for a brief time, but what I have seen is not betrayal or blind hatred. I see compassion, honesty, faith, strength...”

With the last words, she lifted David’s chin up so that he could see in her eyes. He wanted to turn away knowing he was blushing, but he couldn’t. He was drawn to her eyes, they were so beautiful, filled with a tenderness and understanding he had never known before.

He felt as if he were falling into her, overwhelmed by his desire for her embrace, for her comforting arms to wrap around him. “David…you are not like them; don’t you ever forget that. You are…special” she finished, leaving the words hanging off her tongue like a lure on a line.

Her eyes sparkled as the firelight danced in them. David had never seen anyone so lovely. He slowly started toward her, his body aching to be against hers, to press against her lips. Suddenly, something hard fell on David’s head.

“Ouch!” He cried, rubbing his head, and turning to see what hit him. Erin backed away, embarrassed, and began gathering her things to turn in for the night.

Orin and Rex were sitting across the fire, laughing hysterically, making funny kissing motions with their lips, and slapping their legs.

David looked down and saw a small stone lying beside him, no doubt the object of his recent attack, and scolded the two jokers, throwing it back harshly. They easily dodged it, only bringing about more laughter.

He turned and saw Erin was already lying down and drifting off to sleep and decided he should do the same, knowing the moment had been ruined and it was pointless to stay awake any longer. He walked to his bed and lay down, drifting off to sleep faster than he had expected.

✽✽✽

Startled, David bolted upright to find himself in a cold sweat surrounded by a foreign landscape. The ground was covered in a strange brightness he had never seen before, almost like a bright mist enveloping the forest. It was as if the light itself was coming from everything around him. The plants, the trees, the ground, and the sky all emitted the same strange supernatural light. He heard a whisper in his head compelling him to get up, so he did.

The voice commanded his body to walk forward…it replied without his consent, taking him far from his bed and towards a towering building made of smooth white stone. There was an arched doorway and in it stood what appeared to be a group of men and women. They were shrouded in the mysterious white light so he couldn’t see all of their features, yet somehow their presence felt familiar to him and he wasn’t afraid.

“Come closer child, we haven’t much time” they spoke together, yet separate all at once.

The mere sound of their voices ran chills down the back of his neck, yet still he complied. In a trance-like state he stood before them, helpless like a child. He felt a huge wave of shame and modesty overcome him, and he bowed his head, knowing he stood in the presence of something great and mysterious. Tears silently streaked down his cheek and off his chin. As they spoke again, their voices were sounding in his head.

“David, do you know why you were brought here?”

He couldn’t find the words to say, so he stood silently, knowing they already knew the answer.

“This world needed you, because it is you who can wield the orb and you alone, David. If you fail, this world will fall into darkness. You have been given a great responsibility, and with it the fate of this world lies in your hands. He will try to open the Abyss, David. You must try to stop him…you know who it is we speak of.”

He finally found his voice and with great difficulty asked the one question he knew was most important. “I know…you speak of General Krauss. But I don’t understand, how can I stop him? He has an entire army at his command, and I’m just….me.”

They stood silent for a moment before answering. “You are never alone, David, for we are with you. The journey ahead will be difficult, but when it has been travelled all things will become clear to you. You will know when the time is right what must be done. Follow the Northern Pass – there you will find your help”

Their voices began fading in and out as they repeated their last words “Follow the Northern Pass, David, it will guide you to the answers you seek.”

Slowly David’s vision began to fade. The