Tell me what type of story you would tell about two elves, one vampire, two members of the Black River Tribe, and a monk who you tell. I would really want to hear what you could cook up. The truth of seeking out my father from the Nomadic City is the truth. However, Albert in every fiber of his wisdom thought of a new story.

Or the other's motivations to make our journey. What came next is a little beyond me. . . Just like the whole affair of the griffins. How did it occur is something I do not understand. Maybe there have been far too many tales about food or the lack of it. Maybe Albert thought lying was the best choice. A tale of how a group of roughed up travelers in the middle of the Harley Mountains with such an unusual group was headed toward the capital city Summit Wings for trading. It is a story that I would not believe. The Harley Mountains are nowhere near Summit Wings.

The groups have been parted from each other at the request of the cultists. The others are to remain under the keep of guards just outside of the temple grounds. I left Tokey to watch over everyone else. Tokey was not happy at being left with everyone else. Nor Genko pleased to part with his friend Albert. But it had to be done. I have gone inside with Albert into the temple. We need to solve a problem of the Dark Elves have inside the temple. They have been experiencing loud screams and banging noises inside of the Chamber of Two Gardens. It is a place of worship for the joys of life and death. With the coming of the Spring and the end of Winter, the Dark Elves fear if the noises do not stop something horrible should hidden. In fact four Dark Elves are currently missing from entering the Chamber of Two Gardens. Albert has said this much to me. He says we need to solve the problem as payment for entering the grounds and having hospitality toward our other friends.

The Dark Elves have lead us through their huge outside of the temple and jungle grounds. Shortly we enter into a windowless chamber. The ceilings are high above with the restless sounds of bats flying about and the cries of rats. Albert licks his fangs for a moment. Here there are hardly any candles lit. The room is made up of rough stone and plants are growing neatly in planters. There are several murals in the room of children in a garden, woods, and animals. There is a mixture of statues of bones and flowers wrapped with care. In the center of the room is a small version of the temple's main tree. On an altar there are two bowls on each side. The first bowl is made of bone and the second is made of wood. I eye Albert as the Dark Elves keep talking to him. He nods his head with delight. An elf runs off and returns with a bowl of red liquid. Albert gives thanks and the Dark Elves drift back to the entry.

Albert drinks from the bowl of his own carefully. He scouts the room and starts to search about for something. I begin to walk about the length of the chamber. I came across a section where the wall looks fake. I knock on it and feel a small breeze. Meanwhile, Albert sits down by the wall and studies the images in the room.

"Albert, I think I found something," I call.

He does not respond.

"Albert, I said I think I found something."

"Oh yes, my dear? I am sorry I was getting dozy. Do you think we are past midnight already?"

"Maybe. . ." I shrug. "I think I found a false wall here."

He stretches for a moment before answering. Touching the wall, he gives a thumbs up and pushes in a block or two. The wall move inward and reveals a hidden space. Inside of here is some more writing I do not understand. I ask the vampire to explain it to me. Albert smiles for a moment and claps his hands together. He turns to me, "The writings on the walls describes a time before the creation of Gaia. It is tale of the goddess of Life, Golnar, and the god of death, Zakai-"

"I thought the death god was Hades," I point out.

"It is an easy mistake for the untrained person to assume so. However, if you spend enough time studying and listening to my friend the monk. You can learn a lot about the religions of the Gaia. Hades is in charge of the afterlife. Not to mention, the other layers of afterlife being ruled by several other gods and goddess. It is Zakai who rules over death," Albert yawns as he finishes traces his finger over the drawings.

He presses on, "As I was saying. . . There are many different myths about the characters of Golnar and Zakai. But it can be agreed. Golnar is the goddess of Life, who was most beautiful. Zakai the god of death was brave. Together the two gods were neighbors in two gardens across from each other. It had been thus so since the time god, Horace, and the god of space, Bahul, grew tired of their children's bickering. According to the writing, Horace and Bahul were most peaceful friends and had hoped their children Golnar and Zakai would be joyous together as well. Yet Golnar would mock Zakai for his abilities of only creating destruction, clumsiness, and lack of wit. Golnar would disrupt Zakai all the time as she would be working on new planets and life forms, he disliked her coldness, and rather be left to his own devices. He would destroy everything she made. The children were dreadful together.

The children's fighting was so bad Horace and Bahul went before the Lord of All for they worried the children's hatred would harm all of time and space. The Lord of All recommended to send the children to their own realm together. For surely if the two children worked together they would learn to get along in time. Horace and Bahul were to banish their beloved children to the Bituin for five years or until they learned to get along," Albert takes a breath. He rubs his eyes sleepily in the darkness. The vampire places his fingers on his fangs. He traces his hand along the wall.

I walk beside him. The image is complex one depicting the different gods and goddesses meeting before the Lord of All. The Lord of All is only represented by an image of an eye carried by a sphinx. Albert points to the two gods Horace and Bahul. Horace is shown as a wolf with an hourglass around his neck. Bahul is a large owl made of stars. I search about the image and I spy two human shapes. I look at it with care. It had an image of Zakai and Golnar being placed into the Bituin together. Their parents leaving them at the gate. Their expressions were very different between the two craved images. Zakai appeared fearless, while Golnar was afraid. The Cult of Hades decided to crave the images of Bituin as a void of space filled of stars, clouds, and trees. The next scenes of the tale shows the children settling into their own spaces. I look over at Albert.

"Ah, yes. Golnar and Zakai quarreled over who was at fault for their situation. The braver of the two Zakai decided to wander about in the woods. Golnar upset with the choice of her father, but not willing to follow Zakai decided to make a garden there in Bituin. So the children parted ways for one year," Albert touches the next images as his eyes steadily droop, "Golnar and Zakai meet once again as Zakai had grown tired of wandering about in Bituin with little to eat other than stardust and clouds. There Zakai found Golnar's new home the Garden of Life. Golnar had spent her time quietly building up a place filled with fruits, vegetables, and brightly colored plants. Zakai was hungry, but he would not dare ask Golnar for food. It would make him weak to do so. Instead, Zakai demanded Golnar come out from her home.

Here the goddess of life came forth from her garden to its edge. Golnar's time alone in Bituin made her bitterness toward Zakai lessen. She had the company of the plants to cheer her and a few solar systems she made as a gift to her father and Bahul once her exile finished. She had mature somewhat. As she faced Zakai from the edge of her garden she did something she had never done. She smiles, greets him, and invites him inside of her home. Confused by the welcoming goddess, Golnar did a surprising act. He declared that he too would remain in this area and make this his own domain beside hers."

Albert sat down on the tiles of the floor next to the writing. He looks back at me and sighs. Half of the writing has been worn down by age. The next part of the story for the years in between are missing. The vampire starts to gray more in his face. He groans and gets up, "Kino, I shall have to sleep soon. I can feel it."

"It is okay, Albert. Just translate whatever you can for me. I will figure out the rest of the puzzle by myself," I say with grin.

"Kino, dear, you are sure?"

"Yes!"

"Very well. . . The rest of the story I can make out goes to year four," Albert taps the wall, "The children have matured in their behaviors. Through a well-founded friendship from Zakai saving Golnar's life, the two create opposing gardens. One of life and the other one of death. They become close to each other. One day a note from Bahul arrives announcing that their exile will end shortly as the two have gotten along so well. Bahul promises to open the gates back to the God Realm once they are both ready to go. Zakai excitedly goes to tell Golnar of their nearing freedom. Golnar hears the news and becomes sadden and happy. She kisses Zakai on the cheek and awakens the death god's heart. She in turn feels a small prick in her own. As Horace and Bahul come to take their children back to the God Realm. Horace would take Golnar back to Flaming Spark. Bahul would take Golnar to the Circles of Ergon. Golnar gives Zakai a gift at their parting.

Soon their fathers arrive. Both children are returned back to their own realms. As they grew older Golnar would become more beautiful and wise. Zakai would become kinder and gentler. Eventually the two gods married each other," Albert starts to curl up in his spot, "Again what the cultists have tasked us with is figuring out what is happening to the missing people. I think it has to go with the question what did Zakai give Golnar as a parting token . . . Please do not stress too hard for the answer. I shall be right here. . . I just need a small nap. . . " Albert yawns one last time as he dozes off.

I stare at him. I am left with the puzzle section. . . Me! I dislike puzzles as I do not like riddles. I sit down in the lightless place. I know I can see in dim to no light like it is day. The tiny lantern here is making the situation bearable. I huff as I look about the stone room. Yes, it is perfect for Albert and I to take shelter in. I just want to know why do the Dark Elves care about this puzzle. It is not all that interesting. What does Hades have to do with anything? I just wanted to go down the mountains with my friend to find my father. . . I did not think it was going to be so . . . So odd in company. Oh well! At least everyone is safe and sound for now. I only need to solve the puzzle for Albert.