On the 23rd day of August in the year 79, the great day of unity arrived. Bellerophon joined Hephaestus in the towering mountain of Vesuvius.
As we learned previously, Hephaestus is creating a crystal ball that has five pieces, five crystals that when assembled will be more powerful than any crystal ball that has ever existed and gift Bellerophon with the ability to see inside the souls of mortals and control their actions and deeds, their memories and morals, living and dead. Or so, he believes. He’s not entirely sure, nothing like this has ever been attempted.
It has taken one years’ time but the smiths that created the five crystals in different parts of the world are coming to Vesuvius to hand their crystals over to Bellerophon.
Taf, the Viking blacksmith tasked with creating the Crux of the configuration, the crystal that will sit on top of the other four and is slightly larger, was threatened by a dragon he accidently woke.
Taf, not wanting his village destroyed, did as promised and delivered the crystal to Ophis the black dragon.
Taf sat on the neck of the dragon. Wind screamed through his long white beard as the beast soared through the clouds and sky, granting the Viking a view of the European continent like no man before him.
Taf is surprised to get a ride on the dragon to Vesuvius, but the trip is ill-fated for the Viking blacksmith will die before arriving.
With brief pomp and little ceremony, Bellerophon limped his way up to the altar and placed the crystals side by side on the onyx altar forming a united square, the perfect base.
The four other smiths have brought their creations to Vesuvius and Bellerophon has begun uniting the crystal structure. All he needs now is the Crux, but Taf is late.
There was much anticipation of this being a celebration, so Hephaestus provided food and strong drink, and the attendees, expecting the best, drank themselves to sleep.
Slowly, unannounced, he lifted, his colossal black head ascending through the burning oily surface water, his emerald eyes scanning the scene high above.
Ophis, employing unpracticed stealth, tried to sneak into Vesuvius, coming up from below. He swam through a magma stream to get here. He figures that if he can get up to the altar and place the Crux on the configuration, it will be his.
Ophis tail, however, is not long enough and he cannot reach that high. He needs to climb up the volcano’s walls to get nearer to the altar.
And then part of the wall Ophis had trusted his fate to, gave way. His left front leg broke through a thinner portion of rock and into a giant hollow crater. Ophis slipped and caused a great disturbance that rocked the mountain.
Ophis’ attempt at stealth is over.
Bellerophon, Hephaestus and the others awake, grab their weapons, and go to war.
Bellerophon, still a powerful combatant despite his gimp and inebriation, shook his mind awake instantly. He spotted the enormous black lizard slithering below them. Taking hold of a two-edged sword, the Greek warrior scurried down the black walls to do battle with the black beast. Wildly he hacked at the serpent’s craning neck.
Ophis didn’t intend to cause a ruckus, but it couldn’t be avoided. He breathed fire and snapped his jaws. He fought back but was upset by the nimbleness and determination of his enemies. Hephaestus had joined the fight as well, striking the dragon with a large war hammer.
Before Ophis could decide what to do next, Bellerophon, with his magical blade, sliced off two of the four talon-like fingers at the end of Ophis’ tail, causing the dragon to lose control of the crystal. The crystal fell into the lava sea below and was lost.
Retracting his stumpy legs, he forced open his leathery black wings. With a great downward flap and a terrifying screech, Ophis thrust his massive, scaled body up and out of the molten sea, the thick hard plate of his strong black skull striking the underside of the rocky mantle where the onyx altar sat.
The four crystals that were already bounded on the altar came apart. A great deal of energy was released at their separation, and lightning-like arms flew from each crystal, trying to hold onto the other brother stones. The crystals did not want to be separated. The esoteric particles of heaven inside their cores caused a subatomic rupture to enflame the already agitated magma. Vesuvius exploded.
The hellish blast from Mount Vesuvius separated the five Crystals of Bellerophon.
Time passed and Crystals slipped further into history only to become a myth.
Occasionally one of the crystals would surface and empower a ruler, blinding him or her with promises of untold wealth and power, causing death and destruction until the leader fell and the crystal disappeared again.
Hephaestus was pleased. Mortals still killed one another and blood still flowed down into his caves.
Bellerophon for all we know was killed in the blast.
But Ophis, the black dragon, is still alive and crazy mad – and he seeks the five crystals. He will tear heaven and earth apart to find them.
And we will conclude here.
In my next installment, we return to the actual story and learn more about Pero’s nemesis, Rugerius Fabbro with a chapter titled, Rugerius Fabbro.
Rugerius is the eldest son of Gherardus Fabbro who, wearing black armor and sporting a broken jaw, is set to lay siege to Capua.
Until next time, stay inspired and keep reading!
Author Allen M Werner 
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