“God, I did it.” Gwen opened his eyes, screamed happily. He turned to Heracles and Amelinda, hugged each of them right after that. “It accepted me, right?” he added.
“It is exactly that. Well done boy!” said Ham, “No scepter here is more suitable for you than it.” He smiled then looked at Heracles
“Heracles,” said Ham, “you make me spend much time thinking what suits you.” Ham’s eyes turned yellow as like gold in front of them few seconds. “You see. My eyes can change and I can use it to observe a bit of your future and past.” He stopped for a moment. “I tried to look through your future and past, Heracles but I can see anything. They are frosted. However, I can see some of your qualities by watching you from then until now. You are strong independent and confident. They make me think of powerful dragons. And in luck, I got a drop blood of dragon and use it as the soul for a scepter. The blood of a powerful dragon spraying fire and lava. It’s a proud dragon independent and had never served anyone. I must say that it’s very difficult to conquer the scepter, much more difficult than Gwen had. You must be completely focused.”
Ham gave Heracles the scepter. It was heavy scepter with hard black red handle. The crystal ball on the top contained a drop of red blood looking like lava. The blood spread out red light.
“I had to use ironwood to make it handle. Only it can stand the power of dragon. Try it Heracles. Let us see you deserve it.” added Ham.
Heracles nodded then closed his eyes, focused to connect with the scepter. The crystal ball lit up a moment but it didn’t stop and turn off as like others. Heracles couldn’t feel anything.
“Focus, Heracles. You nearly do it.” said Ham.
Suddenly, the red dragon blood drop turned dark red. The light it spread out also turned dark. The scepter inside Heracles’s hand trembled struggling to escape. His head hurt. Heracles nearly lost control, releasing the scepter.
“Focus Heracles.” roared Ham. Heracles heard it. He clenched the scepter tightly, stood still. Sweats appeared on his forehead. He was very focused. Minutes later, the pain disappeared. In an instant, Heracles caught a large pair of eyes looking at him even though he was closing his eyes. The eyes disappeared shortly after. The scepter turned calm in his hand. The blood drop turned red again. It lit brilliantly for minutes. In the time, another scepter in there also lit up but it spread out dark. However, when the light from Heracles’s scepter turned off, it also turned off. Heracles opened his eyes, dropped hands down. His forehead was wet with sweat. He’s really tired but happy because he had mastered the scepter.
The others breathed a sigh of relief. Amelinda rushed to Heracles, hugged him as soon as everything finished.
“Hahaha,” laughed Amelinda, “I know you can do it.”
“Yeah,” said Heracles tiredly, smiled.
“Congratulate Heracles! I think you just got a powerful scepter.” said Gwen quickly approached them.
“Yes, it is. It is a scepter staff that is difficult to conquer. It has been here for long time Heracles. I’m very happy. At last, it also has its worthy owner.” spoke Ham joyfully.
“Thank you.” said Heracles. He smiled.
“It’s not me.” said Ham, “You must hear it from Chun. Something is made for only someone I am the creator of them, but you are the owners.” He smiled.
“As gifts.” he added, “I want you to receive these.”
“What are they?” squealed Amelinda.
“They are space rings. It’s items helping you open other spaces.” Ham explained, “Have you ever thought why this shop All-for-you looks too different as you walk in? It’s because this shop and your town are not in a same place. The shabby appearance of the shop that you saw before entering is essentially a space door. Even other floors in this shop are also not in same place. You have passed one space door as you went from the ground floor here.”
“God, so magical” cried Amelinda, “It’s why everything changed as we came here.”
“Yes,” said Ham, “space rings are also used the same way to create spaces but it is much smaller and only contains small items that are not humans. The spaces also can be extended if your magic power grows up. For you, new people, you can open a space enough to contain about fifty items.”
“Really!” cried Amelinda excitedly, “Let me see it.” she added. She held her hand out, received on ring from Ham. She turned it over and over observing. “How can I use it?” she asked curiously.
“First, I need you to wear it on your finger.” said Ham.
“Is this right?” cried Amelinda, she raised her hand for everyone to see.
“That's right, like that.” said Ham. He gave the other space rings to Heracles and Gwen. Heracles and Gwen helped themselves put the rings on their fingers and observed Amelinda at the same time.
“What do we do next?” asked Amelinda.
“Do you feel the energy traveling from your finger to your belly and vice versa? It's like a cycle. Of course, you all can’t control it at this moment. When you come to Hippocoon, you will be taught to do it but now what you need to do is imagining. Imagine about a box, a coffin, a room and whatever which can contain your items. Your rings will help you create and open a door to the spaces you have imagined.” said Ham.
...
!!! The above post is a draft of my first book on Heracles, Heracles and the Nemean lion in Hippocoon land. Its content can be omitted, modified or replaced. If you want to read the full version, click here buy a ebook: Heracles and the Nemean lion or click here to a paper book: Heracles and the Nemean lion by Hung Nguyen !!!
Heracles and the Nemean Lion
The first epic in the Heracles and the Twelve Labors series — witness Heracles' legendary battle against the invincible lion. A tale of strength, fate, and immortal valor.
Heracles and the Dragon Hydra
The second chapter of the Heracles and the Twelve Labors series. Heracles faces the monstrous Hydra — a dragon-like beast with many heads, each reborn from the last. A mythic journey of courage, strategy, and divine challenge.
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