1 Hewson Brothers

On 20th July, 1818 afternoon, Janet Clinton, an old lady in her 70s got a visitor, which was really surprising since she lived high on the mountain with the three half-brothers she took in. Daniel, being the youngest of three half-brothers rushed to tell the others of the visitor. Bryce, the oldest of the brothers went to check what was going on in the house but the visitor was already gone. Janet told him to go and get his brothers for she had news for them. Bryce brought his brothers and Janet started to reveal some secrets to them.

"I have kept you on this mountain for long enough. It is time for you to leave. You must go on a quest, a magical journey to find three gems. When you find them, you must protect them with your lives". She further explained to them that she was a witch and that they too come from a family of powerful witches and that they had the power of warlocks.

Shocked, the three brothers began asking series questions of why she would keep such a secret from them. She answered, "l was only trying to protect you from the people and the people from you. Before your parents were killed, they also told me to only tell you of this only when I thought you were ready of what is to come".

After a long conversation, the brothers had calmed down and understood what might happen on the quest and the things they might encounter. Finally they were ready to leave. She gave each of the brothers something they could use to go through their journey.

Bryce Hewson, the first brother born on 10th June, 1801 was a 17 year old teenager with black hair and green eyes. He had a lean yet muscular build. He was given a spell book by Janet and was put in charge of protection since he was the oldest and strongest and his magic was the most powerful of the three.

Kevin Hewson, the second brother born born on 14th October, 1801 was a 17 year old teenager with dark brown hair and Hazel Green eyes. He also had a lean and muscular build. He was only younger than Bryce by four months and was older than Daniel by four months. Since he was the quick-witted one, he was given a guide book which contained details and facts about the they might encounter on the journey.

Daniel Hewson, the third brother born on 18th February, 1802 was a 16 year old boy with brown hair and gray-green eyes. He also had a lean and muscular build like his brothers. He was only younger than Kevin by four months and Bryce by eight months. Since he was the smartest, he was given a map of the "Mandrake Realm" where they would find the gems.

"𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎 𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑚 𝑑𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑠", Janet started casting a spell. She started repeating the spell and the wind started blowing stronger by the second and a bright light shone all across the room. They brothers had no choice but to close their eyes.

Suddenly everything was quiet. They opened their eyes and saw what seemed to be a portal, had been opened by Janet. She told them to go through one after the other. But before they left through the portal, she told them that whenever and wherever they find themselves, they should come back to this house on this mountain and whoever they find would take care of them and teach them how to use their magic.

"I really hope you're able to defeat that demon who slaughtered our family and coven", Janet said to after the portal closed.

*****

The "Mandrake Realm" was a "mini realm" that was created by some powerful warlocks with the help of the three gems. The Mandrake Realm was only created to be the last resort to protect the gems. The gems were only to be kept here when the people protecting the gems are faced with a threat they can't overcome.

The three half-brothers all went through and found themselves in the Mandrake Realm; a creepy, lifeless forest so creepy that it sent shivers down their spines. They proceeded through the forest walking close to each other following the map. On their way, they decided to test their magic so they went through the spell book Janet gave Bryce.

About two hours of walking, they came across a very big and beautiful tree. Unlike any other tree, this one was very large and had healthy green leaves. The other trees were all thin and lifeless.

Kevin searched through the book and found what the tree was. "It is a fully grown Mandrake tree which is also enchanted by a group of powerful warlocks with the help of the gems. The enchanted mandrake tree serves as a gate to the great chimera's nest. To opened it, you must touch it and say magic words".

"And what are the magic words?", Daniel asked.

Kevin looked through the book to find the magic words.

"Uhm.. Aperta porta sacra", Kevin read.

"Come on! Let's do it", Bryce said.

The three brothers put their hands on the enchanted three.

"You ready?", Bryce asked.

Kevin and Daniel both nodded.

"𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎 𝑠𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑎"

The enchanted mandrake tree started shaking. It started making cracking sounds and then a spot of white light appear on it. The spot started to move, forming the outline of a door. The light diminished and was replaced by an actual door.

After a few seconds of shock and amazement, they opened the door only to be surprised again. Behind the door was like a while new world with a clear and bright sky. There was a thick forest full of tall and large tree.

The three brothers stepped through the door and appeared on a large circular grassland in the middle of the large trees.

"Woah!", Kevin said.

"The tree are huge", Daniel said. Bryce couldn't help but nod in agreement.

As they were admiring the gigantic trees, they suddenly heard sounds similar to a large beast snoring. The three immediately stiffened.

They slowly and cautiously turned toward where the sound was coming from. They saw what seemed to be nest made out of sticks and branches. It was big enough to fit three adult elephants. The best was placed right in the middle of the grassland, a couple yards away from the brothers.

"What in the world would build such a thing", Bryce said.

"Uh, guys! The door's gone", Daniel said.

Kevin and Bryce immediately turned to face the door that was no where to be found.

"Great! And now we're stuck", Kevin said.

In this kind out situation, ordinary teenagers might have started panicking but not these brothers.

"So how do we get out of here", Daniel said.

"Check the book. It might contain a way for us to get out of here", Bryce said.

Kevin checked the book but found nothing.

"Okay, let's relax! We came here for the gems. Let's get them first and then figure out how to get out of here", Bryce said.

"They're probably in there with the snoring beast", Kevin said.

Then suddenly as if it had been called, the snoring beast woke up and let out a loud roar that scared the three brothers.

The beast jumped out of the nest revealing its hideous form. The beast had the body of a lion but with horns like a bull and eyes of a snake. Its hind legs had been replaced with those of a horse and its tail was a snake. Judging by the two humps on its back, it used to have wings but where cut off by someone.

It stretched its body and started walking towards them.

Kevin checked the book to find if he could find anything about the beast. "The great chimera, a creature with with parts of it being parts of different creatures. The chimera is a very cunning creature. When it lies, its serpent tail hisses. Other than that, the tail minds its own business. The chimera guards the gems of destruction and creation. These gems could be used to destroy the whole of humanity or build a whole new world".

"When the chimera senses an intruder, it approaches them and asks them a riddle. Whether they are able to answered it or not, the chimera will attack the Intruders till they either die or leave".

"Wow, that's really reassuring", Bryce said sarcastically.

The chimera that had gotten close enough started talking, "I am the great chimera that guards the gems of creation and destruction. To get them, you must first pass my test".

"If you pass the test, you shall go ahead and take the gems but if you fail, I will have to send you back to wherever you you came from", the chimera said while circling the three brothers. The serpent tail hissed loudly.

Seeing this the brothers immediately knew that the book was right. The chimera would attack them if they passed or failed.

"If you answer my riddle correctly you pass", the chimera said.

"I am the beginning of the end and the end of before, what am I?", The chimera asked.

They began thinking of the answer.

"The answer is the letter E", Daniel shouted. That was a rather simple riddle.

The chimera replied, "Correct. Now for the second riddle...", but before it could finish the second riddle

"We've answered your riddle correctly, we passed the test".

The chimera ignored him and said, "To continue I must be fed the fruit of the earth, not from tree or bush but from the ground itself. I need a cherry and two grapes".

"What, that's not even a riddle", Kevin shouted.

"Answer it!", the chimera shouted back furiously.

They began thinking but they didn't know the answer.

"Time is up, you did not answer the riddle. You have failed the test", said the chimera.

It began growling at them with fury in its eyes. It pounced towards Bryce who was the closest to it to attack him but Bryce was ready for it.

"𝑣𝑖𝑠", Bryce casted a spell.

An invisible force shot out of Bryce's hand hitting the chimera and throwing it couple yards away to the side.

"Come on", Bryce said.

The three brothers immediately run towards to the nest to retrieve the gems.

The chimera started chasing after them immediately after getting up.

As it was getting close to them, Bryce casted the spell again, sending the beast flying.

The three brothers climbed into the nest and saw three purple coloured gems and immediately went to pick them up. Each of the brothers picked one of the three gems.

Immediately after picking them up, the brothers tried to run out of the nest but the gems suddenly yanked themselves out of the brothers' hands and started floating in front of them.

Before they could even question what was happening, the gems suddenly started glowing. They turned into streaks of light and entered the chests of the three brothers. The gems began to merge with them. The brothers fell to the ground shouting as a soul searing pain overcame them. They all fainted as the pain was too much for them to handle.

Later they woke up. The sky was dark so it was probably night. As they got up on their feet they realized that their surrounding had changed. They were no longer on the grassland nor were they in the creepy forest. Instead they were facing a city with big buildings and houses, better than the buildings in the town they came from. They heard loud noises everywhere and lights coming from the buildings.

All these were astounding but what caught their eyes the most was the huge mansion atop the mountain facing the town.