Death Beyond the Door

Estra knew that once she entered through the towering gates before her, she would walk out a wizard, but first she had to die.

Sixteen was a young age for anyone to go attempt the trial in the Tower of Leyoneh. Years of study could only begin after passing, and the test was a crucible that would scar the soul, if it didn’t shatter it.

For five days Estra waited alone in a stygian chamber deep below the tower, just outside the gates where test would take place. She rationed her food and her candles carefully, not knowing when the gates would open. Enduring more than darkness, Estra heard the occasional scream of agony from whoever resided on the other side of the gate, but this was what she wanted. She waited until the poor soul beyond the gates would emerge broken or enlightened. Then it would be her trial.

“Hello!” the word echoed from a male voice in a foreign accent.

Dropping her bread and jumping to her feet, Estra’s hand flew to the knife at her side. Bandits were common this far out in the desert. Still, Estra knew someone yelling an open greeting into the darkness was probably not a cutthroat, more likely a fool, yet she said nothing. She waited in the dark silence as the echoes from the man’s footsteps grew louder until they were in the room with her.

“Damn this place is spooky” spoke the voice in a language Estra knew to be the tongue of the far southern kingdoms. “SLooks like I’ve got time till the gates open” he said aloud before releasing a wet and furious fart, that in a matter of seconds, destroyed the holy silence of that chamber.

“Ugh, disgusting!” Estra heard herself exclaim.

With a startled cry, she heard the sound of a sword slide from its sheath. Blindly, the man swung the sword around wildly. The blade swished as it cut through the air in every direction around him. “Alright, trying to get the drop on me eh?” he said, this time in her language, “Come on out and I’ll go easy on ya!”

He sounded more scared than confident. After a moment of deliberation, Estra reached into her pocket for a candle and spoke a word of fire into the wick, illuminating the space around her with a dim glow as the flame flickered to life.

In the weak candlelight, the two saw each other for the first time. The man was at least ten years older than her. He had golden bronze skin, covered in sunburns, a few shades lighter than hers. He had thick black hair, not on his head which was bald, but curling into spirals above his lip where a meticulously styled mustache grew from. The blade he held was a dark bronze, chipped in several places and blunt as a butter knife, and even someone unskilled in swordplay as Estra could tell he was holding it wrong.

The man’s eyes glinted with fear for a moment before he relaxed. With a relieved sigh, he sheathed the blade at his side, seeing that the teenage girl with the worn robes and the paring knife was no threat to him. Her long black hair was visible in the firelight. While he seemed like no warrior to Estra, she was glad the weapon was sheathed.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were down here?” he demanded, “you scared the life out of me, kid.”

“I didn’t know if you were friend or foe” she said earnestly as she knelt to set the candle on the stone floor. The man groaned before dropping on his butt beside the candlelight opposite her, “and don’t call me kid.” she said.

“That’s fair, I suppose” he said extending a hand to her, “name’s Teraculous Aspelixir of Liothe.”

Reluctantly, she shook his hand, “Estra” she said.

“Oh?” he said as he drew back his hand with surprise, “no last names here?”

“In this country it isn’t common.”

“Strange land” said Teraculous with a smile as he plundered his pack for an onion which he immediately bit into like a fruit. In all her years, Estra had never encountered a man to eat like that. Immediately her eyes began to sting.

“So, Estra” he said, flecks of onion spraying from his mouth as he spoke, “why are you here if you already know magic?” Estra eyed him curiously, “I saw that little trick with the candle” he said, “why go through all this hullabaloo?” he gestured to the gates.

“I may know the word to light a candle” she said, “I know the way to mend clothing without thread or needle, but what I’m after is truth” Estra said, her eyes glancing back to the colossal stone gates at the end of the chamber, its ornate hieroglyphs and painted patterns now visible in the flickering candlelight. “I am here to become a wizard. I assume that’s why you’re here too.”

With a mighty swallow of onion, Teraculous grinned and shook his head vigorously, “couldn’t be more wrong, sister. I am a wizard.” Estra eyed him skeptically, she had no idea why a wizard would come to a place like this, if he already had power. He must be lying. 

“I see the doubt in your eyes, but take a gander” said Teraculous as his hands gripped and hid his face. Perplexed, Estra watched as the self-proclaimed wizard squeezed his head, unsure what he attempted until his hands flew from his face in a performative flourish, revealing the likeness of her own head. 

“Ta-daaaaa!” At first she was terrified to see the change of faces in the dark, but something inside of her loosened up as she stared at the goofy smile plastered on her own face and she couldn’t help but laugh at the strange magic.

“Oh, gods, I hate that!” she blurted out between fits of laughter, “make it go away!” 

“You really don’t have a lot of self-esteem” he said as the feminine features of his face warped, aged, and returned to his own. 

“What then brings a wizard of Liothe so far from his home?” she asked, confused as to why anyone from so distant a country would travel the world just to learn something they already know. Teraculous held out the onion close to the candle for Estra to observe. With a quick turn of his wrist, the onion became an apple in his hand, unbitten.

“I love illusions” he said with with joy in his voice, as the apple dissolved into mist and dissipated between his fingers, “there’s nothing in the world that brings me more joy. I thought mastering them would make me happy” he said glumly, “but I was wrong. It turns out that the great wizards of the world look down on illusions and those who cast them. I have no talent for anything else, only their disrespect,” bringing his hand back to his mouth, he took a bite of the onion that reappeared there, “I’m gonna make them regret it. I’ve heard rumors about this place. That once you pass the test beyond those doors, your mind opens to the potential for greater magics. Real miracles. And then I’ll show them” he said disdainfully. He glared into the small flame with “then no one’s gonna laugh at Teraculous ever again.” he whispered, his eyes slowly raising to meet Estra again. 

“That’s sad” said Estra, to Teraculous’ surprise. To her it seemed such a waste to travel so far and risk one’s sanity in the hopes that someone would respect him “you’ve come all this way to change the minds of arrogant mages. What are you hoping to learn here anyway that’ll bring you this renown?” 

Teraculous’ glare sharpened on her, “It doesn’t matter what I learn. I just need to know something that puts me on equal footing” Estra wanted to tell him to go back. That what lay beyond the gates was not worth the risk, but with a gesture he dismissed her “I don’t need your advice. I’m a wizard and you’re not. Now you tell me, why are you here? And don’t say truth.”

Estra had always wanted to be a wizard. She wanted to know the language of the winds and stones. She wanted to learn the secrets of the world that are shared only once in an eon, but she had plans for this knowledge. “Before this place was a desert, our people were strong, wise, and happy” Estra said softly, “In your travels through this land, I’m sure you passed by ghost-towns and withered farms. We can’t feed ourselves any longer and the sands slowly swallow our cities. I want to walk away from this tower, a wizard who can bid the water to return to the riverbeds and the dry springs. I want to help the earth bear crops again and speak the sand into soil. There was a better time long ago before this land was dying, and I want to return there.”

Scratching his chin, Teraculous thought on her words for a moment before chuckling. Estra’s brow furrowed as she eyed him, “what’s so funny?”

“That’s naive” he said “You should work towards something more realistic.” 

“Like appeasing people who don’t like you, so you’ll be happy?” Estra said sarcastically. Teraculous’ glare returned before he broke his gaze from her and stared at the gates again. Groaning impatiently, the wizard fell back against the stone ground and sighed. He looked at the door impatiently, “this is taking forever” he sighed, “how many hours you been here for?”

“Five days.”

“Days!?” Teraculous exclaimed, his frustration echoing off the dark dome of the high chamber, “I thought I’d have to wait twenty minutes maybe thirty.”

“Relax” said Estra, “they’ll probably open up soon.”

“Fine” said Teraculous unsatisfied, “I guess there’s nothing I can do. I have to wait till they open..” 

“Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until my trial is ended” said Estra.

Shooting up form the ground, the wizard eyed her incredulously, “you think I’m waiting here for you to finish? Don’t make me laugh. I’ve been traveling here for weeks.”

“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life” Estra said, realizing that this impasse could become dangerous. “I was here first." The two of them glared into each other. Simultaneously, they slowly rose to their feet. Estra’s hand flew to her knife and quickly drew it, but Teraculous just scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“Don’t be petulant” he said crossing his arms, “this isn’t worth cutting each other over. No matter who goes in first, the other can still go in second. There’s no shortage of that.” Teraculous vexed her, but he made sense. Cautiously, she moved to sheathe the knife at her side. “What I propose is a contest of wits” he said, “we each pose a riddle. One guess per. Whoever fails, goes last into the gates.”

This suited Estra. Riddles were a pastime of hers, and the man seemed a fool. He’d traveled the world to get something, and he wasn’t even sure what it was. Estra smiled, “I’ll go first.” Teraculous leered triumphantly like he already won. She couldn’t wait to wipe the smug grin off his face. 

Estra cleared her throat before she began.

“Sometimes storms, sometimes bars

Fills the wastelands, outnumbers stars 

Ambassador between wave and land

Finish this rhyme, what am I?”

“Sand.” Teraculous replied instantly and almost bored. Estra was crestfallen. This fool had figured it out without a moment’s hesitation, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed. 

“That was so quick” she said marveling. The illusionist’s smug leer widened. “how did-”

“The entire country’s made of sand!” he said gesturing to the world around him in mocking incredulity, “very clever. It’s like if we were on a boat and the answer’s water. Real puzzle that one. Genius work kid! I mean it, really-”

“Gods! Do you ever close your mouth?” she yelled pinching her nose.Talking to Teraculous was probably going to be more taxing than the test ahead. The wizard fell silent but his condescending leer only broadened. 

“My turn” he said. Estra sat patiently and readied herself for the puzzle. 

“Inside a cave, a golden hoard

These workers make it for their lord

Like gold it does not rust or spoil

The sweetest treasure, a lifelong toil"

First, Estra’s mind went to miners, but mining doesn’t ‘make’ gold, it procures it. The workers and the lord was what drew her attention the most. What kind of lord though? Perhaps it was landlords, gods, chieftains, moguls, reagents, kings, queens. Estra smiled as slowly, the answer came to her. “Queens” she said quietly to herself.

“What’s that?” he asked. Estra crossed her arms and grinned confidently at the wizard. 

“Bees” she answered.

Teraculous looked disappointed and shrugged, “your turn.” Without hesitating Estra spoke the next riddle.

“Forbidden tool in warring times

Extracting truths, confirming lies

What could make in ragged breath

A good man beg for his own death?”

Teraculous yawned, “torture.”

“Dammit!” Estra stomped on the ground.

“The real torture is how simple these are. My turn now. Listen to this:'

When I paint the sky the land is bright

Chased away by inky night 

Sealed in oceans, hottest in fire 

seen by day, there’s nothing higher

You can’t hold or touch, just see

Your spirits are low when you become me.”

Estra had no idea. She pondered long on the riddle.. Teraculous’ glee rose with every minute of silence that passed. Finally, Estra reached a point where she knew it just had to be guessed. “The sky?” she ventured unconfidently.

Teraculous threw his head back in laughter that echoed off every stone in the chamber and shook his head vigorously, “you fool!” he exclaimed.

“Then what is it?” she demanded.

“Blue!” he shrieked with delight. Estra swore and turned away form the wizard in fury, she couldn’t bear to look at him. She hated the way he relished his victory, and she hated moreso that he was right. She seethed because ‘blue’ was incontestable and she had lost fairly. When she turned back, Teraculous was dancing merrily in the light of the candle

“Don’t worry Estra” he said snidely, “if I lost, I would’ve just tricked you into walking down the wrong path anyway. I’ll tell you what’s going to happen to you in a few days after I leave the room.”

“I already know what’ll happen” she muttered glumly, all spirit gone from her.  Teraculous stopped dancing, “what do you mean you know?”

Estra eyed him with surprise, “you don’t know what happens in there?” 

“Nice try” said Teraculous, “you don’t know either.”

“I live only a day’s journey from here” said Estra, “Tales of that room aren’t obscure for those who live in this part of the desert.” Teraculous’ mouth closed as he eyed her curiously. “The sages of my country say that to work magic, you must experience your ultimate truth. Only then can the hidden truths of the world be seen.”

“What would that be?” he asked.

Goosebumps riddled Estra’s skin before she said it, “your own death.”

Before Teraculous could say another word a gut-wrenching scream of agony resounded through the chamber shaking them both to their core, and with a whistle of wind the gates opened. Panting and crying, a silhouetted figure emerged from the chamber beyond and collapsed by the firelight. His eyes were wild and bloodshot. Twitching and drooling, he curled up at Teraculous’ feet and wept uncontrollably. Slowly Teraculous attempted to step away from the broken man, but his hand reached up and gripped the wizard’s clothes so tightly he couldn’t move away. Teraculous trembled as the crazed man stared into him with a look that had seen hell, “for seven days” he whimpered, “plague. That’s how it’s gonna…gonna…” his voice broke into loud screams and sobs. Neither one of them had ever seen anyone so agonized.

Gently, Estra bent down and locked eyes with the man before wrapping her arms around him and embracing the poor soul. “It’ll be okay” she said, even though she knew better. At least the man left still able to speak. There were many less lucky. She stayed with the weeping man until he cried himself to sleep, settling unconsciously beside the candle. Slowly, she lifted herself away from the man, moving slowly so as not to rouse him and looked up, surprised to see Teraculous was still there. He stood frozen like a statue, staring horrified into the opening between the gates.

“I thought it was…like a test of magic or something. Maybe a riddle” Teraculous said weakly. Estra walked in front of him to meet his eyes. His gaze betrayed naked doubt and overwhelming terror.

“You won the contest fair and square, Teraculous,” said Estra gently “but if you don’t walk into that room, I will.” 

“Just” Teraculous looked frantically around the room for what Estra assumed was an excuse, “give me time to prepare. You haven’t let me prepare yet.”

She knew that there wasn’t time in the world that would have helped him enter the room. Kindly she put a hand on his shoulder and gave a him a friendly smile. 

“It was nice to meet you. I think you’re very very annoying, but I would hate to see you go through this just to come home with nothing but pain.” The wizard bit his lip after it began to quiver, and found that he could conjure nothing to say. Estra squeezed his shoulder before walking away. 

“Farewell” she said as she passed the colossal stone gates and into the dark dusty room where the trial awaited her. 

Turning around one last time, Estra saw the fearful face of Teraculous staring at her in awe before the gates shut, extinguishing the candlelight, and leaving her alone with only death to keep her company.