Editor�s note: Due to the length of chapter books, Kids Can Publish posts one chapter per week. Chapter 1 was posted on July 14, 2008; scroll through the KCP winners to find it, along with other preceding chapters.

Chapter 10: Endings

All the Ancients of Glakrias walked single file to the Gate of Gods. Eric slowly revealed the crystal key from his pocket and reached out towards the lock.

Before slipping the key into the lock, he thought, �If I do this, then I take Glakrias into the domain of Risbaed and Loranire. If I stay out, then they live in denial for the rest of time.�

Finally, he made his decision. He would go. He reached out to the lock and put the key in and tried to turn it.

�Urgh, urgh�� he grunted as he tried harder to turn the key. �I don�t want to break the key� �

Finally, Shartish sighed and came over to help Eric, only she turned it the opposite way and it opened easily.

Eric blushed, embarrassed, and stepped through the gate. They walked quite a distance before reaching the end of the corridor, which opened into a vast room with an altar in the center. Without warning, numerous men and women appeared wearing blue robes with an odd symbol on them.

�Shartish!� snarled their leader. �How did you get here?�

Eric walked out from behind the crowd, �me.�

�A human?� Risbaed responded. �Odd.�

Eric stood next to Shartish. �Loranire�s the god of life, right?� he asked.

�Yes,� Risbaed responded.

�Exactly! Life, not death!� shouted Eric.

�What is your point, human,� said Risbaed.

�Why are you fighting and trying to kill each other!� Eric screamed.

The others began to murmur as Eric�s words began to sink in. �You should live in harmony, not denial!�

�Haha!� Risbaed said. �The only way you can do that is if you find a new god for us to worship!�

�I think I have something in mind,� Eric smirked.

Less than an hour later Glory walked through the hall into the big chamber were everyone was waiting.

�I was� called here?� Glory asked.

�This is the god I wanted you to meet!� Eric told the Loranirians.

�Gl-glory?� Risbaed asked.

�Yes, it is I,� Glory responded.

�W-wait, you to know each other?� stammered a confused.

�Of course,� Glory answered.

�We met 3,000 years ago, while traveling,� confirmed Risbaed.

�It was right before the war,� Glory finished.

�Thank you Eric, for bringing our two people together again!� Risbaed nodded.

�You�re accepting Glory!� Eric asked, joyfully.

�Yes,� Risbaed agreed.

�Well, I�m glad I could help,� said Eric.

�I�m glad you found us,� Shartish said with a smirk. �But, you should be getting home now.�

�Yeah,� Eric suddenly realized himself.

�Drop by any time you like, along with your villagers,� offered Risbaed. � And take these as a token of gratitude.� He handed Eric five sacks of rich, tender, meats and a bag of coins.

Eric took them both, but handed back the bag of coins.

�Thanks, but I think I�ve changed my mind on becoming the richest guy in the village, I think these meats are enough,� he said in a thoughtful tone.

�You�re positive?� Risbaed asked, surprised.

�Yes,� Eric confirmed.

�Goodbye Eric, we hope we see you again soon,� said Shartish.

Eric waved goodbye to everyone, and walked out the temple door, breathing in fresh air, and walked home, happier than he could ever remember being.

Copyright 2008 Matthew Cottrell