Man of Mystery

“Got her!” the goblin danced and cheered, proudly clutching his bow.

Everyone looked on in shock and horror as she spiraled out of control. Roman, enraged, darted as a ball of fire toward the group erupting at their feet. One of the bow-carrying goblins burst into flames. He squealed and rolled on the ground until the flames dissipated. What remained was a lethargic lump of goo with smoke drifting out of his ears.

“Enough!” The man with the tall hat bellowed. He pointed his cane toward Celeste. A dark cloud of smoke shot out of the tip of his cane and created a protective dome around her body, shielding her just before she hit the ground. Roman changed course and flew into the smoke dome.

. “They are not to be harmed. Take them to my chamber,” the man commanded.

Fully cloaked and hooded, Roman rose from the smoke, gripping the arrow that still dripped with Celeste’s blood. “You…” he growled, piercing the goblin with his stare.

The goblin whimpered and cowered behind the others. “I, I, I… deepest apologies, kind sir. Please don’t hurt me.” He begged.

“Unacceptable! You will be punished for this!” the man declared. He stepped dramatically in front of Roman with his chest nobly puffed out and shoulders held high. A collective gasp came from the gathering of goblins. The man cleared his throat and pointed his cane toward the goblin, whirling it around in a circular motion. “You will now rot in the depths of the dungeon to think about your actions.” Heavy iron bars broke through the dirt and rose from the ground, enclosing the goblin in a tiny cell.

“No! Please! I - I didn’t mean to! Please!” the goblin wailed and stretched his stubby arms through the bars. The other goblins scattered in fear. Before another whimper escaped, the goblin disappeared into the ground from which the bars appeared.

“Let this be a warning to all of you.” The man scowled at the crowd. “This is a place of learning and sharing ideas. Such barbaric behavior will not be tolerated.” His face softened, “Now… let’s get back to it. Opening day is fast approaching!”

Everyone scuttled off, resuming their pre-commotion activities. The man turned to Roman, tilting his hat with a twinkle in his bright blue eyes. “Now, let’s have a look at your friend.”

Roman’s rage was now mixed with bewilderment. “Please help her. I, I pulled the arrow from her wing.” He uttered quietly, pushing his emotions back inside.

The dark smoke cleared; Celeste was nowhere to be found.

“Come, she is inside.” The man waved Roman toward a small blue door, simply labeled Professor Chambers on the front.

“Is this a place of study?” Roman scratched his head.

“That would be the shortsighted view,” the man pushed the door open, shooting off a wink as Roman passed. “Did you hear that? Not so much as a squeak from this door. Every detail is meticulous… done to perfection.”

The two climbed a flight of stairs made from marble and landed in a grand room illuminated by soft candlelight. Three large, detailed oil paintings adorned the walls. The first painting was a desert with shimmering sand, towering monuments that touched a sky spilling over with stars that reflected off of the sand. Roman had never seen so many stars. This painting could not possibly be of a real place. The second painting was a lush jungle with butterflies and rare flowers crowding every leaf. Stone sculptures and buildings stood high in the background. The third painting was a crystal blue river with razor-straight cliffs on each side stretching to the sky.

There was another wall with a space for a painting. It was bare, as if a space was being saved. The paintings were squeezed by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves overflowing with dusty old books. Regal couches anchored by carved wooden tables stacked high with more books straddled the center of the room. An extra-long table sat off to the side, lined with several armed chairs. A serving of biscuits and tea, unfinished, remained at the end of the table.

“Where is she? He asked. “If this is some nonsensical scheme—I will make everyone here pay.” He glared at the man. There was a quiet rage inside of Roman, always stirring. If not contained, it leads to absolute destruction.

The man stopped in his tracks. “There is something special about you and your companion. As for you, I have a feeling you have much to offer… untapped abilities.” He studied Roman with narrowed eyes and a half grin. “It’s my gift, you know. I’m intuitive. I’m rarely wrong about these things.”

Roman stared back, cold and unfazed by his words. “Where is she?”

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