Secrets Revealed

"How much longer will this journey take. I've never thought I would be carsick on a horse." said Lucas. Lucas, Jessica and the Reignheart Squadron had been travelling to different cities of Greece, trying to avoid Roman Imperial blockades and patrols.

"It's the safest route we could take. And at the same time, the longest." said Amelia as she laid on top of her horse while staring to an endless blue sky. "Let's kill some time. What are your names?" said Axel. "My name is Jessica Owlivia, and this is Lucas Owlivia."

"Ah, you're siblings?" said Axel. "Yup, how about yours?" "My name is Axel Reignheart, and she is Amelia Reignheart."

"So that's why the squadron is called the Reignheart Squadron." said Lucas. Amelia leans over to Axel, with sarcasm all over her face. "I told you we should have gone with a better name."

"Sir, patrol on northeast position." said one of the archers. "Impossible, this route's patrol should've passed by now. Alright, everyone! Phoenix Formation!" ordered Axel. All the archers made an upside down V filled shape behind the remaining roman soldiers which formed a bird like head and wings, forming a phoenix.

"Rebels on southwest position!"

"Now, ignite the phoenix!" As soon as Amelia gave the order, a hail of arrows flew over their head, taking out the infantries of the patrol. "

The patrol leader immediately held his horses back and retreated as fast as he could.

"We need to go in a faster pace. That patrol squad is definitely reporting to the nearest city." said Axel. "What's the closest city from us?" asked the twins. "Corvus Imperialis, a town specialized for training soldiers."

At that night, the squadron took a quick rest before continuing their journey later. "Jess, can you sleep?" asked Lucas as he tosses and turns on the barely soft mattress. "Nope." replied Jessica. "Same here. I keep thinking about dad. What do you think he would do if he were here with us?" "Honestly, I'm pretty we wouldn't be trying to sleep on this rock like mattress. We'd probably be singing all night by the campfire." Both of them laughed together as they thought about their father just playing the guitar, singing country songs in his deep, echoing voice. "Do you think dad is still out there somewhere, searching his way back home?" asked Lucas. "I don't know."

Jessica looks at her brother's concerned face and replies. "But I like to think that he's going on different wild adventures, maybe collecting a bunch of unique artifacts and he can't wait to show them to us."

Around midnight, Lucas and Jessica were awoke with Axel and Amelia staring at them.

"Jesus! What the hell are you doing in our tent?" screamed Lucas as he woke up to Amelia staring at him. "Who's Jesus?" asked both Amelia and Axel. Lucas and Jessica looked at each other and tried to hold their laughter. "Nevermind. It's just someone we know. Why are you both in our tent?"

"We have to leave now and get a headstart on those Roman soldiers." said Axel. "And by the way, why would you think that I look like Jesus. Do I looks similar to him? Or is it a she?" "Forget it. Just, never do that again."

Under the light of the moon, the squadron continued their trekking. After 2 days, they've finally reached the city of Corinth, which used to be the city of knowledge and the Atheneans, a community of people who were known greatly for their knowledge and tactics.

"Alright. We'll have to stop here. If we go any closer to the gate, we'd probably be executed in the most horrible ways." said Axel. "So, how do we go in?" asked Lucas.

One of the phoenix soldiers carried and threw what looked like heavy roman armor. "Well, I'm glad we met that patrol." said Lucas as he saw the armor. "So here's what we're gonna do." explained Axel

"It's a simple 3 part plan. Me and Amelia along with the rest of the phoenix squadron will dress up as an injured patrol and require emergency attention. In the midst of the chaos, you and Jessica will slip in as guards. Don't worry, they won't notice more guards in a panic situation. The last part of the plan is on you to find the library it exists. If you've found the library, give us a signal."

"Halt! We don't have any schedule of incoming patrols until noon later." said the guard captain. "Raiders sir. (pants) We've been attacked. We need to seek medical attention." plead Axel. "There has been no information of patrols coming in yet! I'm sorry but we can't let you in! There is a nearby city not too far from here."

Suddenly a band of raiders could be seen rushing down the mountain. "The Raiders! Sir! Please let us in!" The captain finally soften up and let the patrol in. "HALT CAPTAIN!" The voice echoed through the whole city. A tall and fierce-looking man, holding 2 chains with flat blades could be seen. "(mutters under breathe) I've got a bad feeling about this." said Axel. "I've got an order, from the city of Corvus, that an imperial patrol was wiped out but only the leader was left alive. Now tell me, Captain... (looks at both Axel and the guard) Which patrol do you think runs all the way to Corinth for medical attention." The guard captain had just realised and quickly gave orders "Seize them!" ordered the captain. "Captain, why don't you go ahead and give a demonstration the mighty defenses of Corinth to those raiders." said Commander Corvis as he laughed. "Very well commander." The captain clearly fears Commander Corvis, along with everyone in the Roman Empire. Catapults on the city walls were ignited and launched. The rest of the Phoenix Squadron stood still as they saw the sky turned orange. "No! Why! What is wrong with you!" said Axel as he teared up. "Because unlike you, I find this very artistic and very entertaining to my liking. Increase the fire power! Let the sky turn as red as blood." said Commander Corvis as he walked away.

"(gasps) Oh no." said Jessica. "What is it?" asked Lucas. He looked behind and he couldn't move. His whole body felt like it had been frozen. Fireballs devastated the mountain, almost flattening the mountain. "Lucas, we have to get going. Let's just hope they had escaped."

"The threat has been neutralized sir." replied the captain. "Captain, you must be blind. You read the report for the attack on Helmantica yes?" said Commander Corvis. "Yes commander, and we have just captured the Reignheart Duo and executed their crew." The commander was suddenly infuriated and grabbed the captain by his neck. "You are clearly not fit for this job. We are missing the boy and the girl who sabotaged our efforts." The commander then plunged his blades into the captain's chest, leaving him to bleed. "You." said the commander to another guard. "Ye- yes commander?" "Good news, you're being promoted to Guard Captain. Now get these prisoners to the dungeons and toss his body off the cliff please." "Yes commander."

*THUMP*

Lucas had fallen off the wall and landed on a wagon filled with wheat. "Luc-" She quickly held her mouth as soldiers came to inspect it.

"(mouthing) Don't worry, I'll find another way."

As Lucas was carried away in the wagon, Jessica was left completely alone with no one to help her. Amelia and Axel had been captured and rest of squadron was most likely buried under tons and tons of mountain debris "Think Jess, come on, you can do this." After hours of thinking and wandering through the city, she finally gave up and resorted to what her father used to say.

"What happened?" asked her father "(begins to sob) I failed my finals again. I d- don't know h- how I'm supposed to do this. If I fail a- another, I'll have to repeat the whole year again." Her father sat closer to her and patted her at the back. "Well, all my life I've learned that everyone bumps into problems, some way bigger than them, even though others might think its small." Both of them stared at Lucas who was way more successful in school. "Don't hold your tears. It's ok to break down once in a while. But you have to promise me that you'll stand up, more determined than ever, and face your problems no matter how ridiculous the solution is, after all, your heart will always guide you back onto your destiny"

Jessica quickly collected her tears and stood up. "I've got this. Just think. If I were Lucas, what would I do to blend in. Science! It would have to be a profession that these people still think are magical." She searched for any buildings that looked like an observatory or medical posts. As she ventured through the city, she saw a odd looking building just outside of the city's borders. It seemed isolated and no guards were guarding the gate that was leading to that building. "I wonder if this is it." Suddenly a hand grabbed her. "Stay quiet."

"Who are you!" said Jessica as the person carried her away. "My name is Helix. What were you doing near the Warlock's house?" asked the person seriously. "I'm searching for someone." "Then you're searching for suicide. Whoever you're searching is probably dead if he or she is in the Warlock's house." They arrived at a house and Helix quickly locked the doors.

"Dead? Who is this Warlock?" asked Jessica. "Some say that he cursed the Atheneans to stone. Others say he stole the forbidden books from the Library Of Life." "Wait did you just say Library Of Life. You mean there is an actual magical library here?" asked Jessica. "You're not from around here are you? It is real, but no one ever entered the library ever since the Atheneans. Soldiers have tried burning the library but nothing harmed the library." said Helix. "The library exists.... I've got to go now. I need to tell them we didn't came here for nothing."

"What are you talking about? You can't get out of here." said Helix. "What do you mean? Speaking of, where are we?" said Jessica with a concerned voice. "I'm sorry." said Helix. "What do you mean??" asked Jessica.

"Who do we have here? Oh my, you have a pretty face." A middle aged woman came down the stairs, accompanied by 2 little girls who had bruises all over their arms. "What beauty, elegance. Yes, you would make a perfect slave." said the woman in a scrawny voice while holding Jessica's face. "Excuse me?" said Jessica with an angry tone. "Please don't ." whispered Helix. "You dare speak to me with that tone young lady! Who brought her?" "I- I did." said Helix. "Well then what are you doing standing there! Teach her our manners or no dinner for you!" said the woman. She then whispered closely to Jessica's ears. "Watch your attitude or I'll make you suffer." She then cackled and went back upstairs being carried by her servants who obviously suffered from the weight they had to carry.

"I'm truly am sorry." pleaded Helix and Jessica walked furiously through the halls. "It's fine. Who was that horrifying creature?" said Jessica. "(Laughs) Please do not call her that. Her name is Lady Birsha of the Pearl Isle."

"Sounds like a bitchy name." said Jessica. Confusion could be seen all over Helix's face. "What's bitchy?" Jessica then realizes. "Oh right. Forget that." "Is that a place? Don't worry, I do know what a bakery is." said Helix. The more they talked to each other, the more confused Jessica became. "Have you ever went out of the city?" asked Jessica. "There is a world outside of the city walls?" Helix face lit up with questions. "What do you mean? Of course there is a world outside the walls. Have you never went out?" asked Jessica. The more interested Helix was, the more worried Jessica was that the kids never went out. "Lady Birsha sometimes lets us out of our cages to go outside and see people. She says its a blessing she gives to us. But we have to return with someone else that will serve as well." Helix had just realised what he said. "I didn't mean it like tha-" "Excuse me what?" said Jessica. Helix quickly covered his head with his hands and curled up. "I'm sorry.. don't hit me please." Jessica's worries finally reached the peak after hearing what Helix had just said. "(Lowers hand to Helix) C'mon get up. I wasn't going to hurt you and I'm sorry for my tone." Helix's scared and worried face quickly turned to a glad and happy one. "I haven't met anyone like you." said Helix. "Well, I am not from around here." said Jessica. "What do you mean?" said Helix.

"I- I'm... from a different time."