Figures, badges, keychains, and games for sale:

I accept payment through PayPal send a direct message and I'll weigh them and find the shipping price and send them out as soon as possible. Prices are for each, so if you want all 4 Inuyasha oval badges will that be 20usd.

Badges:

Inuyasha oval: 5usd (Kikyo, Kouga, Miroku, Sesshoumaru)

Inuyasha round: 4usd (Shippou, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Sesshoumaru)

Zombie Land Saga: 6usd (Sakura Minamoto, Tae Yamada, Junko Konno, Ai Mizuno)

Digimon Adventure 02: 6usd Iori Hida, Miyako Inoue, Ken Ichijouji, Daisuke Motomiya)

Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne/Phantom Thief Jeanne: 4usd (Jeanne, Fin Fish, nervous Maron, Miyako Todaiji, Sinbad, Chiaki Nagoya, happy Maron, surprised Maron, floral Maron)

Keychains:

Inuyasha: 8usd (Sesshoumaru, Kikyo, Miroku, Kouga, Kouga flattening Inuyasha, Slapped Miroku, bumped Shippou, Sesshoumaru stepping on Jaken, Inuyasha playing with Buyo, embarrassed Sango)

Splatoon: 20usd (Spyke)

Figures: (first two based on ebay prices but lower)

Final Fantasy Static Arts Mini*: Sephiroth (slightly damaged box lid 60usd, box in perfect shape but sword fell down 100usd), Tifa (150usd)

Attack on Titan Ichiban Kuji Ymir and Krista (80usd)

Hunter x Hunter sitting (20usd, Chrollo Lucilfer, Shalnark, Feitan Portor)

19th century office blind box (18usd 10/10 left, perfect for making an office for Dai Gyakuten Saiban characters)

Nintendo DS Games: (these are Norwegian exclusives** and region free, still sealed, not dumped online)

Flunkene Superskurker (50usd, 10/10 left, here they are supervillains)

Flunkene På Månen (50usd, 10/10 left, here they go to the moon)

Vinter i Blåfjell (100usd as there's just 1, based on a cinematic universe, if you want can I try getting as much of it to go with it as possible, so the TV shows and the movie)

Lego:

Lego Technic 8272 (100usd, unopened*** but the box is a little banged since it's been years)

Feel free to ask any questions.

* I was planning to use these for some customizing before I noticed nendoroids so the figures themselves are mint as I haven't touched them.

** I have nothing against sending them to a streamer/let's player/reviewer of your choice if you want them to try another language, I won't be insulted by they pronouncing anything wrong as I find it funny)

*** my family gave it to a cousin of mine for Christmas many years ago, but his overprotective mother returned it before he even opened it in case it was something that could hurt him 😓, kid was 12.

Today's Beauty-Marked Beauty is: Lilith Anwar from Royalty Witches

Requested by: Anonymous

Figures, badges, keychains, and games for sale:

I accept payment through PayPal send a direct message and I'll weigh them and find the shipping price and send them out as soon as possible. Prices are for each, so if you want all 4 Inuyasha oval badges will that be 20usd.

Badges:

Inuyasha oval: 5usd (Kikyo, Kouga, Miroku, Sesshoumaru)

Inuyasha round: 4usd (Shippou, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Sesshoumaru)

Zombie Land Saga: 6usd (Sakura Minamoto, Tae Yamada, Junko Konno, Ai Mizuno)

Digimon Adventure 02: 6usd Iori Hida, Miyako Inoue, Ken Ichijouji, Daisuke Motomiya)

Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne/Phantom Thief Jeanne: 4usd (Jeanne, Fin Fish, nervous Maron, Miyako Todaiji, Sinbad, Chiaki Nagoya, happy Maron, surprised Maron, floral Maron)

Keychains:

Inuyasha: 8usd (Sesshoumaru, Kikyo, Miroku, Kouga, Kouga flattening Inuyasha, Slapped Miroku, bumped Shippou, Sesshoumaru stepping on Jaken, Inuyasha playing with Buyo, embarrassed Sango)

Splatoon: 20usd (Spyke)

Figures: (first two based on ebay prices but lower)

Final Fantasy Static Arts Mini*: Sephiroth (slightly damaged box lid 60usd, box in perfect shape but sword fell down 100usd), Tifa (150usd)

Attack on Titan Ichiban Kuji Ymir and Krista (80usd)

Hunter x Hunter sitting (20usd, Chrollo Lucilfer, Shalnark, Feitan Portor)

19th century office blind box (18usd 10/10 left, perfect for making an office for Dai Gyakuten Saiban characters)

Nintendo DS Games: (these are Norwegian exclusives** and region free, still sealed, not dumped online)

Flunkene Superskurker (50usd, 10/10 left, here they are supervillains)

Flunkene På Månen (50usd, 10/10 left, here they go to the moon)

Vinter i Blåfjell (100usd as there's just 1, based on a cinematic universe, if you want can I try getting as much of it to go with it as possible, so the TV shows and the movie)

Lego:

Lego Technic 8272 (100usd, unopened*** but the box is a little banged since it's been years)

Feel free to ask any questions.

* I was planning to use these for some customizing before I noticed nendoroids so the figures themselves are mint as I haven't touched them.

** I have nothing against sending them to a streamer/let's player/reviewer of your choice if you want them to try another language, I won't be insulted by they pronouncing anything wrong as I find it funny)

*** my family gave it to a cousin of mine for Christmas many years ago, but his overprotective mother returned it before he even opened it in case it was something that could hurt him 😓, kid was 12.

How to support international stories coming out in English!

I've seen many English speakers ask when they see something not out in their language commenting "Will it ever come out in English?" "[…] Can't wait for for it to be available in English :) I bet it will be a success! 🎉" "I'm having a hard time finding these in English - are they available anywhere?" "I hope your books comes to the US! Looks cool!" "I've heard great things about your book! Is it translated to English? I was having trouble finding it, but I'd be interested in reading it ^_^"

Well, on their website Seven Seas Entertainment has a monthly survey where you can send in stories, this is seemingly the easiest way although you can only usually send in 4* a month/survey (which I won't link directly to as they are monthly and we are already at the end of April and I don't know when May's will show up, so just scroll down to it). So it can take a while, and preferably no repeats, so have a list you can check off those you have already requested. You can also ask people you know to fill it, or borrow their devices, maybe even use the computers at the library, airport, school, etc. You can also send in all the ones you are interested in to Dark Horse Comics for example, but in my experience are the ones replying to this email address on their Instagram account: contestATdarkhorseDOTcom to be much nicer although they don't really reply if they are considering the suggestions or not, nor do they appear to take regular novels which is a bummer.

There's also OniPress which are going to publish Snøkattprinsen, and Arctis who has published Ravneringene, and while claiming to bring the best from all over the world to the US have they mostly taken from their German branch's library (and seem to be mostly taking novels only, but you can try convincing them to broaden their horizons). There's Yen Press, which seems to be going pretty international or at the very least East Asian, as well as Scholastic and Penguin although the latter two might not take much comics/graphic novels compared to the comic and art book exclusive Dark Horse. Apparently these prefer suggestions done by tweeting at them, so this depends on you wanting to use twitter or not. But I'd avoid DC and Marvel as then the stories might have to become part of their established universes which might be difficult for the creators, and honestly unnecessary. There's also Tokyopop that was revived in English recently with Disney and GL&BL stuff, but with their history, do I not know if I want to trust them... Especially since they are proudly showing off the stories which rights they stole from their original underpaid creators...

Whichever you decide to go for, do I personally recommend pasting the urls from the links below or write them as "[story] by [author]" to make them easier for them to find, they are only human after all.

Picture from Alena Pons' Instagram

Want an inclusive story about a magical school that isn't written by a recist TERF? Or perhaps a comedy about monster children attending school and their shenanigans? Or about a non-binary ash elf and their dragon friend? Or about how a prophecy ruins the lives of the chosen ones as they have no choice how to live their lives? Then we have stories for you!

Arkin - Lysets Vokter 🗨️♿

Asynja📖

Born from Death 🗨️♿

El príncipe de la calamidad📖🗨️

Dinokid 🗨️🏳️‍🌈🖤

Dragens Øye🗨️♿🏳️‍🌈🤍

Donde los Árboles Cantan 📖

Krypto 🗨️🖤

Gryphoon 🗨️♿

Leyendas de Parva Terra🗨️

Mia Myhr og barna som forsvant 🗨️

MiniMonsters 🗨️♿

Mørkalven 🗨️♿

Mystical📖

Nidur🗨️

Nordlys 🗨️♿🖤

Oppfinneren 🗨️♿🖤

Phenomena 📖♿🤍🏳️‍🌈

Ragnarok 🗨️♿🤍

Royalty Witches📖🏳️‍🌈❤️

Strawberry Moon 📖❤️♿

Underbyen 🗨️

Under Regnbuen 🗨️🤍🏳️‍🌈

Urara🗨️♿

The Urban Legend 🗨️**

Valhalla🗨️♿

Ville Poter 🗨️♿

보지도 못하고 듣지도 못해도 사랑해🗨️❤️♿

외발로 살다🗨️🤍♿

Legend: 🗨️=comic/graphic novel, 📖=novel, 🏳️‍🌈=lgbtqia+ characters***, ❤️=romance is a central theme, 🤍=some romance but not the focus, 🖤=no romance what so ever, ♿=disabled character(s) in a good light (counts by @cannondisabledcharacters rules), (some may change the more I read or as the story continues).

Art by @cha-c-san

That thing from that country vs just another movie

So since 2012 has Innovasjon Norge where they gave money to fund an animation movie by a little unknown animation company known as Disney over a Norwegian series, that have continued doing that. So Norway's top 3 ways of making money are:

Oil

Tourism

Salmon

So because of the environment, they want to phase out the oil and find ✨𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔫𝔢𝔴 𝔬𝔦𝔩™✨. So first they tried increasing the salmon "farming", which led to fleas and birth defects. After the seemingly huge success of Frozen, they funded the side stuff and the sequel. Then they funded a Mission Impossible movie, to have a scene on Preikestolen, the scene was so brief and didn't really add anything to the movie so they had to beg so it wasn't cut. Then in one of the latest James Bond movies they funded it to pretend that a Norwegian mountain is in India. So why do they fund so many American productions? Well, to put it simply, tourism. If they sneak in a little of Norway into these, they hope people will want to go to Norway.

But not everyone watching know that Arendelle is based on Norway, and it goes over to being just another Disney movie doesn't it? The clip of Prekestolen, I haven't heard anyone mention that scene as standing out, honestly, I haven't heard anyone talking about that movie. The James Bond movie, they are told that beautiful mountain is in India, India has many beautiful mountains, but pretending that mountain is in India in-movie will increase tourism there, disappointed when they don't find it. So unless you read interviews or the credits closely, you probably wouldn't know that you were lied to. And if hopefully the pandemic taught them anything, do not rely on tourism too much!

So after a while they just become another movie among many others. But if they support a Norwegian story making it as big as they deserve, it'd be remembered among people as "that Norwegian thing" wouldn't it? This is why I want to support stories not only from my home country but also from others. Among the ✨𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔫𝔢𝔴 𝔬𝔦𝔩™✨ they've tried is timber, which Sweden is known for, and like oil, is finite. There's no end in creative people, and they deserve support. Here they get only 10% of what they poored their soul into while the publisher last time I checked get 70%. This the result of a print shop strike where as they only got 5%, where the boss took 90% of that and the actual workers got the remains. I don't blame the print shop workers, they deserved more. But that the publisher snuck in and took the hugest percentage, is just BS as they do the least (here at least, most authors have to advertise in their own free time themselves).

Vegetarian vampires done right, comic by David Ramírez

* This April one asked for at least 1 Manga from Japan exclusively, 2 Manga/Graphic novels/Comics from wherever, At least 1 light novel from Japan exclusively, and 2 any kind of novel from wherever. [edited in April: they want 1 manga from the 90s or older] [edited in by the end of January as they were asking for these specific genres then] For the manga and light novels from Japan: 1 fantasy/isekai manga and 1 light novel 🐉, 1 of each with lgbtqia+ topics, 1 of each with comedy🤣, romance, or drama🎭, 1oe action⚔️, horror👻, or supernaturalψ, 1oe with fanservice, smut, and stuff like that, 1oe from the 90s or older💾, 2oe Chinese (or Taiwanese or any other country they publish stories in Chinese probably), 1oe Korean 🇰🇷 (the two on the bottom of the previous list are Korean, will add some novels here), 1 Hiveworks Comic, 1 International web comic (will add some below the Korean novels), and 1oe international comic/graphic novel and novel.

If you don't read much manga but want to suggest any do I recommend (these have no "fan service") 五色の舟🗨️📖♿🏳️‍🌈🐉 (Goshiki no Fune , about a found family of Japanese disabled people during WW2 as they try to survive, none of the opposing forces are demonized and just they trying to live their lives), I S―男でも女でもない性🗨️♿🏳️‍🌈❤️ (IS - Otoko Demo Onna Demo Nai Sei, about different intersex people and their lives), 斉木楠雄のΨ難 (Saiki Kusuo no PSI Nan/The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. 🗨️♿🤍🤣ψ A comedy about a seemingly aroace guy with supernatural powers he takes all too seriously), 放浪息子🗨️🏳️‍🌈❤️ (Hourou Musuko, about trans children and their lives, not perfect but also sweet, had an English translation that was sadly dropped due to lack of sales), Ballad of a Shinigami 📖🤍♿ψ (one of the first light novels Seven Seas published, but was cancelled as it was in the years light novels and visual novels weren't taken as seriously in the west, hopefully we can uncancel it), もののけ草紙🗨️🤍♿👻 (Mononoke Soushi , well, it has some nudity but not pervy nudity. It's about a young girl Tenome growing up right before WW2 and as an adult during the war, it's a love craftian inspired horror manga with Japanese folklore and she's really badass, and even if you are a coward like me is the art, story, and characters stronger than the horror so you'd probably like it,

＋アニマ🗨️🤍♿🐉(+Anima, a darkly cute series about children gaining animal powers, was officially in English once, but deserves more love again), Luck Stealer 📖⚔️🤍♿ψ by Hajime Kazu (story about an assassin taking lives by stealing their luck by coming near them, really satisfying and badass and understandable why he does it. There's one annoying character shoehorned in by an editor it feels like, but he doesn't appear much fortunately), 心霊探偵八雲📖🤍♿ψ (Shinrei Tantei Yakumo, a mystery series about a guy who can see ghosts, can get really dark), and finally 恋の神様 古味直志短編集🗨️❤️🤍🖤ψ🐉🤣 (Koi no Kamisama, a collection of Komi Naoshi one-shots before he went mainstream with Nisekoi, a collection of weird and kind of psychological one-shots that are a lot of fun within few pages). P.A. (プライベートアクトレス) ❤️💾♿🗨️🎭 about a "private actress", pretending to be people's lover, daughter, themselves, whatever is needed, seeing her act and grow as a person, not perfect and shows it age some places but mostly surprisingly accepting. アノニマス🤍🗨️🎭 (Anonymous, about some Japanese teens from the 20s, raised without names or purpose other than to follow orders, but they meet some other teens they to their surprise befriend and so they decide to live for themselves). 周刊少年Girl 🗨️🤣🤍ψ(Weekly Shounen Girl, an absurd and wacky manga that takes full use of it's medium, it's amazing). スミレ♡16歳!! 🗨️🤣(Sumire♡16 years old!! Weird manga about a puppet attending school and somehow getting friends. Oddly sweet).

These don't quite follow the rules but are 💾: F. Compo (weird trans manga from the 90s, a cis man's desperate attempt at being "accepting", interesting to look back at), クロノクルセイド(Chrono Crusade, has some unnecessary fan service but is still my favourite manga. Is about a nun and a demon hunting demons in USA in the 1920s), ストップ!! ひばりくん! (Stop!! Hibari-kun! I remember some problematic moments, but a impressively progressive trans manga from the 80s!).

The promised Korean novels:레지나레나 - 용서받지 못한 그대에게 📖❤️♿(Regina Rena: To the Unforgiven, has a webtoon on... Webtoon and a region locked translation of the novel), 필리아로제 - 가시왕관의 예언🗨️🤍♿(Philia Rosé: The Prophecy of the Crown of Thorns, the WebToon is translated but not the novel), 마땅한 살인📖🤍♿⚔️ (Justified Murder, novel about a doctor forced to kill the father of a patient in self defense when he doesn't want her to tell authorities that he abused the patient. Her cop husband helps her dispose of the body by drawing a lipstick heart on him, the signature of a serial killer only going after the worst, it works a little too well as the killer contacts her and recruits her as the killer is actually a group). International webcomics/WebToons (those i do not know where are from don't have flags, some are already in English): City Vamps 🇪🇸, Heartblood🇫🇮, I Want to Be A Cute Anime Girl, Born From Death 🇮🇩, @XXIII, Angel's Quest 🇪🇸, Watermelon 🇸🇦, Seed 🇹🇷 (I think), Love Advice From the Great Duke of Hell 🇨🇭, The Witch and the Bull 🇹🇼, Project Novos ��🇹, The World Where I Belong 🇹🇭(I think), and more. Remember that the ones further up are the ones struggling to come out in English.

** Self published, but has been looking for an official publisher forever according to interviews.

*** a work not marked with this still could have some later, is not clear enough, I haven't read enough yet to know, or I haven't asked the author. But even if one seemingly does not have any does it not mean that the author is phobic or not part of the lgbtqia+ themselves, and as far as I know, no one on this list are phobic as far as I've checked.

Feel free to reblog with stories from different countries that aren't translated into English. The ones I suggest here are in languages that I understand or have accessed by other means. Also, many thanks to @godteri-takk for encouraging me and @ittibittium for making this post (which is very much have been the reason the series came out look at slide 2) and inspiring me. If you have any questions about the stories I've included here, feel free to ask ^^. If you wonder why I didn't link to Phenomena, Mørkalven, Under Regnbuen, The Urban Legend, and Underbyen on the booksfromnorway website is it that they're simply not there, the publisher haven't added them. I'd also link to Norway Comics more often as the website looks good, but haven't been updated in about 2 years, maybe they started to give up? I don't know. Thank you for your time and hopefully we can give more than a few authors a cool gift before the end of the year.

Why I’m translating as the official translation sample was shit. But off course I had to get injuired so too much writing makes my arm hurt like it’s stabbed...

The struggles!

Some problems all bookworms go through

1. I want to buy books but i have no money

2. Never enough shelf space

3. I have 40 books to read but i still can’t pick one

4. READING SLUMPS

5. This book gave me feelings and now i’m crying on the floor

(Main spoken language is English)

KLM was a Norwegian comedy trio, often compared to the English Monty Python, which was an influence, but has their own way of doing things, sometimes they go too far, but mostly stay funny. Keep in mind that they started in 1976, and does have some outdated jokes too.

This one was made in 1996, some retakes of classical KLM jokes redone in English. Their English is like most Norwegians' English, a mix of American and British English. Trigger warnings: mines, a drunk, a denture falling out (found that scary as a kid), bathroom tools in the dining area, some cold war Russian steerotypes (even though the war was over), reffering to the use of nuclear bombs. If you find anything that scary you that isn't listed feel free to make me add it.

CONTAINS NSFW!

Main spoken language is English.

KLM was a Norwegian comedy trio, often compared to the English Monty Python, which was an influence, but has their own way of doing things, sometimes they go too far, but mostly stay funny. Keep in mind that they started in 1976, and does have some outdated jokes too.

This one was made in 1994 to celebrate the winter olympics in Lillehammer in 1994. This one really takes things too far. Trigger warnings: nude people, operations, guts, gore, mafia, burnt corpse, radioactive, evil dentist, child getting hurt by being blown away by a helicopter and getting scared, a man's "jewels", sports. And if you wonder about the age rating this had in Norway... well... it got 'For all ages'...

(Main spoken language is English)

KLM was a Norwegian comedy trio, often compared to the English Monty Python, which was an influence, but has their own way of doing things, sometimes they go too far, but mostly stay funny. Keep in mind that they started in 1976, and does have some outdated jokes too.

This one was made in 1985, the cold war was still raging. This one mainly pokes that Norway finally was going to have more diplomats around the world due to finally getting rich enough due to the oil (before Norway often shared embassies with Sweden, Denmark or both). Norwegian official personell is just as famous now as then for being bad in foreign languages, or just plain misunderstanding the situation. Trigger warnings: some steerotypes(mostly played of one from the trio), nagging teacher, the cold war, misunderstanding, nobody wanting to be the only one in a small country.

(Main spoken language is English)

KLM was a Norwegian comedy trio, often compared to the English Monty Python, which was an influence, but has their own way of doing things, sometimes they go too far, but mostly stay funny. Keep in mind that they started in 1976, and does have some outdated jokes too.

Trigger warnings: grenades, man getting hit by elevator, adults fighting, flashing lights, old lady almost hit by car, guns, mafia, headless man (as seen), popping ballons, national steerotype. (tell me if you want me to add more)

Dear all followers, or people who don't dare to follow but are checking every now and then.

I, the main translator, managed to injuire my right hand some months ago, so if I write a lot, it hurts a lot, and it’s hard to concentrate. Due to that the translating is on an unfortunate unannounced hiatus for a long time including my regular slowness. With my own life to live outside this, with emails to reply to, drawings to draw etc, I cannot translate until I’m much better. I am really sorry for this, but my left hand isn’t my main hand and can’t take over as much as I want to. 

To make up for this I’ll try to upload Norwegian comedy sketches and fairytales every sunday, either without any real voicing, originally in English or subbed in English, I hope that’ll be okay with all of you. I’ll write if it’s NSFW and trigger warnings underneath so be sure to read them first. When I feel much better I might start fansubbing if that’s wanted if I get help for that.

Everyone, thanks for your patience and please forgive me.

Phenomena book 1 – Chapter 3 – The mysterious cellar.

The first snowflakes fell that night*. Arol woke Alk and Ilke with breakfast on the bed. When they had eaten, and got dressed and ran down to the others. Arol took them with him on a small walk. Outside was the light blueish, and the snow was sparkling on the ground and in the frost on the trees. They went down to the Meriba lake and threw rocks onto the thin ice, and on the way home where they playing tag. Arol was hunting for them and rolled them around on the ground. Outside the castle they laid exhausted on the ground and made figures in the snow. When they had caught their breath, went they along to help Arol getting water from the well down in the cellar. The walls where covered in a white thin frozen layer. Arol lighted the torches and the flames where reflected in the mirror-like walls. Alk remembered that they used to lick the walls when they where younger, it was cold and tasted salty. They had stopped doing it when Alk had frozen his tongue to the wall and Arol had to pour warm water onto it to make it loosen. He looked over at Ilke, she showed him her tongue and smiled, she remembered it too. They continued walking by some rooms which was used to store food for the winter. Down in the well was the water roaring.     -”Why do the water make so much noise?” Alk asked.     -”The water is from a river which goes underneath the castle.” Arol explained.     Ilke bowed over the edge to see.     -”I don't see anything!” she said and shrugged, “But maybe we'll see it better if we climb down?”     -”There's nothing interesting to see, and besides you can get stuck.” Arol said and looked strictly at her. He knew well what she was capable of.     Ilke smiled to Alk and winked smugly. He shook his head, but she pretended not to notice. Alk felt helpless, had she really thought of climbing down even though Arol said it could be dangerous? He couldn't understand how she always wanted to do things that seemed completely foolish.     When they walked up the stairs with a bucket of water each, bumped she into him.     -”We'll climb down the well later today.” she whispered so Arol couldn't hear her.     Arol didn't say anything, he knew that she'd do it anyway, it was better if he joined, so he could at least watch her.

Phenomena libro 1 – Capítulo 2 – En el castillo del Hechicero

El interior del castillo are cálido y antorchas ardían en las paredes. Arol mantenía sus patas alrededor de Harti y Khiri, quienes temblaban de frío y miedo. No podían creer que habían sido salvados del príncipe de hielo. Siguieron a Arol por un largo pasillo y unas amplias escaleras de piedra. Los llevó hasta un cuarto enorme en donde Sha-ra esperaba sentado. Sha-ra hizo una seña para que se sentaran enfrente de la chimenea. 

Khiri sostenía a los niños con fuerza mientras intentaba calentarlos.

"Consigue algo para cubrirlos." dijo Sha-ra a Arol.

Arol salió por la puerta y volvió con algunas mantas de lana. Se mantuvo de pie mirando a Alk e Ilke. Su hocico de oso polar notó que algo no era normal.

Cuidadosamente se inclinó. “Sha-ra, este niño no respira. La piel es completamente azul claro.” dijo el.

Khiri observó con preocupación a su hija. Sha-ra se apresuró hacia Khiri y cargo a Ilke. Examinó cuidadosamente al niño elfo, puso su oído en ella y escuchó.

"Está respirando, pero debidamente. El príncipe de hielo sopló su espíritu en ella. Ella probablemente se ha vuelto un niño de la escarcha"

Khiri mostró el miedo en su cara y puso una mano en su boca para detener un grito.

"No hay necesidad de preocuparse, nada malo le pasará a ella," dijo Sha-ra, "Pero es la primera vez que Hish ha dado a un niño elfo un espíritu de hielo. Ella tendrá habilidades que ningún otro tiene, pero a parte de eso será como cualquier otra niña."

"Un niño de la escarcha? dijo Harti preguntándose. 

"Yo me haré cargo de ella, no tienen nada que temer. Ellos crecerán para ser niños maravillosos. La única cosa que no podrá manejar bien es el calor. Le daré un amuleto que la protegerá." Sha-ra dijo y se puso de pie. Harti y Khiri se inclinaron sobre los 2 bebés y lloraron. Sha-ra volvió y amarró un medallón alrededor del cuello de Ilke. Ella despertó  le sonrió a sus padres.

"Es muy importante que regresen antes del amanecer y antes de que noten que se han ido" Sha-ra comentó.

"Cuida bien de ellos." dijo Harti y agarró el brazo de Sha-ra.

Sha-ra asintió con la cabeza. “Quedense un momento y coman algo. Tienen tiempo para eso.”

Harti le agradecido y miró a Khiri, que sostenía a los niños con fuerza.

Cuando habían comido, alimentado a Harti e Ilke uno cada quien, por momentos cruzaron miradas y trataron de sonreír uno al otro. Querían disfrutar esté ultimo tiempo juntos con los niños, ya que no sabían si los volverían a ver.

Mientras los elfos comían, Arol había estado sentado con los ojos cerrados recordando a su familia. Se imaginaba las enormes montañas, todos los osos invernales y la nieve donde el pertenecía, un poco después , se quedó dormido.

Cuando se despertó con un sobresalto, el fuego estaba apagandose. Harti y Khiri se habían marchado y los niños dormían en el piso envueltos en mantas.

Arol notó el medallón que Ilke llevaba en el cuello. El collar era una gema hecha de hielo con una llama ardiendo en el medio, la faceta era de plata y estaba hecha con la form de dos alas de dragón. Tocó el medallón con su para, estaba frío como el hielo.

Arol fue al estudio del hechicero, ahí Sha-ra estaba situado frente un libro enorme.

"Ven y toma asiento aquí" Sha-ra exclamó emocionado.

Arol se sorprendió con la actitud de Sha-ra, quien usualmente era muy calmado, que ahora estaba casi temblando de emoción.

"He esperado por esto un largo tiempo," Sha-ra inició, "Esos dos niños elfos podrían ser los elegidos!"

"Los elegidos…?" Arol no comprendía nada.

"De acuerdo con el libro de la sabiduría, el Phenomena, nuestros pequeños invitados podrían ser los elegidos que liberarán a los elfos de le esclavitud mortok y salvarán al mundo del malvado Tarkan!"

Sha-ra deslizó su dedo por la pagina.

"Aquí está," dijo al encontrarlo, " En los días cuando el cofre del invierno florezca del ojo del botón de oro habrá…"

"Sha-ra, sabes muy bien que no entiendo nada de ese libro!" Arol suspiró molesto.

Sha-ra levantó la vista.

"Me disculpo, no era mi intención…!

El hechicero tosió antes de continuar.

"Está escrito aquí que cuando Tarkan se levante junto con sus tropas en los campos conocidos como Gredom,  deberán de haber reunido a su gente los dos elfos elegidos. Ellos derrotarán el pensamiento maligno y entonces habrá paz en la tierra.

"Y a que te refieres con ‘el pensamiento maligno’ y como puede uno derrotado?"

Tarkan no es un ser, es un pensamiento. Un pensamiento maligno. Tarkan encuentra alguien que quiera pensarlo y en ese momento la persona se vuelve Tarkan. El matar a Tarkan es destruir al pensamiento maligno.

Shara miró a Arol para asegurarse de que entendía y luego continuó: “Antes de la batalla en Gredom los elegidos unirán a los elfos en un solo pueblo y los liberarán de la esclavitud de los mortoks. Uno de los elfos es referido en la profecía como ‘príncipe de sabiduría’ y ‘rey de la justicia’, el otro, como está escrito aquí, es ‘hija del hielo’.”

El hechicero se detuvo y observo a Arol.

"Así que por eso el príncipe de hielo trató de llevarse a Alk e Ilke…" Arol suspiró.

"Si, Hish sabía esto. El quiere asegurarse que la profecía se cumpla. Pero no es tan fácil. Las profecías se cumplen por si solas, pero algunas veces necesitan un poco de ayuda. Sin saberlo, Hish ya ayudó a cumplir la profecía al hacer a Ilke ‘hija del hielo’."

"Hish está de nuestro lado?" Arol gruñó.

"Hish está confundido y tiene hambre de poder. El está de el lado del bien, pero algunas veces hace cosas que no debería. Cosas que lastiman a otros, el no es muy bueno mostrando respeto!"

"Hay más?" Arol preguntó.

"Si, hay mucho más escrito. Dice que crecerán lejos de su propia gente y montarán al príncipe del reino de la nieve."

"Ese soy yo?" interrumpió Arol.

El mago sonrió antes de continuar leyendo. “Cuando el viento del norte crezca en fuerza y el cofre del invierno sea llevado por el viento como hojas en los arboles del otoño, Tarkan se mostrará como un león rugiendo y engañará a la gente. En ese entonces los elegidos viajaran las tierras para detener a la luna afligida, ‘sepan cuando el pensamiento se muestre y hagan caso a estas palabras’,  está escrito.”

Sha-ra volvió a mirar a Arol. “Y cuando Tarkan se revele los elegidos deben viajar al manantial Efraiber y detener la lluvia ahí.”

"Acaso el agua en el manantial Efraiber no cae de un misterioso hoyo en el cielo?" preguntó Arol. Sha-ra asintió. "Así es. Por ese mismo agujero Tarkan puede obtener fuerza y volverse más poderoso. Por eso los elegidos deben detener la lluvia."

Arol recordó  los pequeños niños elfos que estaban dormidos.

"Tu crees que se volverán lo suficientemente fuertes para cumplir la profecía y derrotar a Tarkan?" dijo preocupado, "Ellos parecen tan pequeños y débiles."

"La profecía solo puede ser cumplida por niños, Tarkan tiene demasiado poder sobre los adultos." dijo Sha-ra en un tono serio.

Arol se mantuvo inmóvil por un largo tiempo y pensó los que Sha-ra había dicho. Realmente era tan simple?

"Creo que es tiempo de darles de comer a los pequeños" el dijo.

"Si, el sol ya salió," Sha-ra comentó, "Les haré algo de papilla."

Arol jamas había visto a Sha-ra tan determinado antes. El caminó hasta el libro que estaba abierto. En la parte superior de la pagina estaba escrito en letras ordenadas: ‘Elegidos de la profecía, reporte escrito por el primero de los guardianes del libro.’ Arol hojeo varias paginas, la escritura era serpenteante y en algunos lugares, la tinta se había corrido donde alguien cerró el libro antes de que secara. Su pata se detuvo en una palabra. ‘Profecía de Sherpa,’ el deletreo.

"Haced caso a la profecía de Sherpa, pues en ella los elegidos serán exterminados con espadas y nadie nunca gritará sus nombres, porque la memoria de ellos será olvidada," dijo Sha-ra.

Arol giró rapidamente, el hechicero estaba de pie en el arco de la puerta observandolo.

"He alimentado a los pequeños, ahora duermen en los aposentos de la torre." dijo calmadamente.

"Nunca dijiste nada acerca de otra profecía," Arol acusó, "Una profecía donde los elegidos mueren y Tarkan reina en Aldra!"

"Es nuestra responsabilidad si la profecía en Phenomena será cumplida. Tarkan hará lo que sea que pueda para detenerlos, por eso, debemos ayudarlos."

"Como puedes estar seguro de que no es la profecía de Sherpa la que se cumplirá?" dijo Arol, "Incluso el libro no está seguro de cual se llevará a cabo. Si mi memoria no falla, Sherpa es uno de los mas grandes magos que ha vivido."

"Vive," dijo Sha-ra, "El aun está vivo."

"Vivo?" Arol no sabía que creer, "Si esta vivo el debe tener alrededor de…"

"Exactamente tiene 9653 años," dijo Sha-ra, "El es quien mantiene a Tarkan vivo y le ha enseñado todo lo que sabe."

"Y los niños van a pelear contra el?"

Sha-ra asintió.

"Ya no comprendo nada," dijo Arol y sacudió su enorme cabeza de oso polar, "Por qué habría de cumplirse la profecía escrita en Phenomena y no la otra?"

"Todo lo escrito en el libro son las palabras del poderoso rey Veha. Fueron escritas por magos poderosos, los cinco que Azhel eligió antes de irse a las tierras del invierno." contestó Sha-ra.

"Magos poderosos? Tu maestro, el hechicero Arkin, quien era un descendiente directo de Azhel, se volvió loco e incendió su propio castillo!" rugió Arol.

Sha-ra lo miró con dureza.

Arol inmediatamente se sintió mal por lo que había dicho. Recordó que su abuelo le contó que hace cuatrocientos inviernos y un verano, el castillo de Akin se quemó hasta los cimientos. Los osos invernales y la gente de los alrededores acudieron para apagar el fuego. Habían hecho una cadena hasta el lago y llenaban cubetas de agua helada para lanzar al fuego, pero parecía que las llamas tenían voluntad propia. Dentro del castillo se encontraban un hechicero y sus estudiantes, dos hermanos gemelos.

El abuelo de Arol dijo que después de que el fuego se apagó, un niño pequeño se encontraba ahí llorando. El niño había perdido a su hermano gemelo en el incendio. Al día siguiente el fue y reunió los libros que el fuego no había dañado. Entonces dejo la tierra del invernó. Arol sabía que ese pequeño niño era Sha-ra.

"Arkin era uno en la larga linea de hechiceros que habían luchado contra Sherpa y la maldad  en el norte." continuó Sha-ra, "El era uno en la antigua linea de guardianes del libro Phenomena de la profecía. En el están escritas historias de este mundo, de cuando se alzó de los océanos billones de inviernos atrás." El miro a Arol.

"Pero Sherpa ha vivido desde antes de que el libro fuera escrito!"

Exclamó Arol.

"La maldad existe para contrastar a la bondad. El bien existe a causa del mal." Sha-ra suspiró, "En el Phenomena está escrito que pasaría si al mal fuera  le fuera permitido destruir al bien. Aldra sería un lugar horrible done la gente viviría con miedo, los niños no podrán crecer sin estar asustados. No podrían estar seguros de llegar a crecer."

Sha-ra respiró profundamente “Acaso tengo opción? He sido elegido para ayudar a los niños a cumplir la profecía. Si dudo que puedo lograrlo, nunca seremos capaces de hacerlo.”

El oso invernal miro a Sha-ra por un largo rato.

"Lo lograremos." dijo Arol.

Sha-ra cerró el libro. El libro se llenó de una luz azul y un símbolo apareció en el aire. Sha-ra puso su mano sobre el y cerró sus ojos, el símbolo cambio de forma rápidamente antes de desaparecer y el libro se cerró.

"Eres el primero en 913 años que no siendo un hechicero ha visto dentro de este libro" Sha-ra dijo con una sonrisa.

"Puedo guardar un secreto" contestó Arol y sonrió de vuelta.

Cuando tres inviernos habían pasado, Hish se dio cuenta que no podía cumplir la profecía y se sintió mal porque los niños no podían salir a jugar en la nieve. Así que prometió a Sha-ra que se mantendría alejado.

Conforme los niños crecían, Arol les enseñó todo lo que los oseznos debían saber para sobrevivir en la naturaleza. Incluso intentó mostrarles como oler la diferencia ente frambuesas y arándanos. Pero comprendió que podría ser algo difícil. A diferencia de los osos, ellos en realidad tenían narices pequeñas. Sus ojos tampoco eran especialmente grandes. Aunque eran gemelos, eran realmente diferentes. Mientras Alk se enfocaba en oler la frambuesa, Ilke se la comía. Pero en cambio Ilke are muy hábil peleando. Se lanzaba audazmente sobre Arol para inmovilizarlo contra el suelo, mordía, arañaba y golpeaba todo lo que podía. Aun cuando Arol la sujetaba ella gruñía y se revolcaba como un gato salvaje 

y se negaba a rendirse.

Alk prefería leer. Una tarde cuando Arol finalmente lo convenció de dejas su libro y entrenar artes marciales, el se tomó su tiempo antes de atacar. El estudió a Arol e hizo un plan. Después saltó hacia el oso y gateó alrededor del oso cuando Arol trató de atraparlo.

"Te rindes?" gritó Alk sosteniendose alrededor de su cuello.

Arol rió y se sacudió. Alk perdió su agarre y rodó por el suelo. Se incorporó y masajeó su hombro.

"Vamos!" Arol dijo con una sonrisa, "No te rendirás tan fácilmente o si?"

"Olvidalo." dijo Alk y miro molesto a Arol. "Eres demasiado fuerte y yo soy solo un niño,  tu eres un oso invernal adulto! Ademas yo estaba leyendo, creo que continuaré haciendolo."

"No te preocupes por el" dijo Ilke, "Enseñame algunos trucos para poder vencerlo mas tarde esta noche!"

Cuando fueron a la cama por la noche, Alk preguntó a Ilke si ella podría enseñarle algunos de los trucos que Arol le había mostrado.

"Por qué no haces que Arol te enseñe?"

"Es mejor si tu me muestras," dijo Alk y sonrió, "A ti puedo vencerte."

"Puedes intentarlo!" ella gritó y le lanzó una almohada.

Arol estaba detrás de la puerta escuchando. El sonrió, Alk e Ilke jamas podrían volverse osos invernales. Pero el esperaba que ellos pudieran aprender lo suficiente para defenderse a si mismos cuando crezcan.

"No queráis leche con miel tibia?" preguntó Sha-ra cuando el bajó.

"No, estaban durmiendo como bebés."

Sha-ra escuchó los sonidos provenientes de los aposentos de la torre.

"Suena más como si estuvieran lanzando rocas." dijo y sacudió la cabeza.

Sha-re les enseñaba acerca del universo, de la gente viviendo a su alrededor y de el arte de hacer magia simple. Aprendieron a levantar del suelo objetos pequeños y a mandarlos volando alrededor del cuarto, aprendieron a hipnotizar ratones que salían en busca de comida.

Sha-ra también dedicó mucho tiempo enseñando a Ilke a controlar sus poderes, ella había notado que congelaba sus sabanas durante la noche sin saber como o por qué. Al principio ella pensaba que era aterrador, pero Sha-ra le contó acerca de los poderosos poderes invernales que habitaban dentro de ella y que pasaría si ella aprendía a controlarlos.

Un día Ilke iba a congelar una cubeta con agua.

Sha-ra encargó a Ilke la tarea de leer un libro acerca de los antiguos nómadas.

"Cuando mires la cubeta vas a pensar en el agua dentro de ella." Sha-ra dijo y se agachó junto a Ilke.

Ella entrecerró sus ojos mirando fijamente frente a ella.

"Luego piensa en hielo y frio," continuó, "Sientes el hielo dentro de ti? Juntalo todo en un solo lugar y trata de enviarlo a el agua."

Ella se concentró y el agua lentamente se volvió hielo.

Alk estaba cambiando de pagina cuando el libro resbalo de su regazo. El trato desesperadamente de agarrarlo antes de que golpeara el piso con un ruido fuerte. Ilke perdió su concentración y volteó hacia Alk, todo el hielo que había reunido fue lanzado en contra de el con tremendo poder. Alk sintió el intenso dolor del frío en su piel y fue lanzado contra la pared. Debido al frío que bajo por su garganta y a sus pulmones el no logro gritar. El golpe le sacó el aire y el quedó en el suelo jadeando desesperadamente. Salía vapor frío de su cuerpo y estaba cubierto en nieve.

Sha-ra corrió hacia Alk

"Trata de respirar con calma." dijo mientras se ponía encima de Alk para calentarlo.

Alk se aferro a Sha-ra y respiró entrecortadamente.

"Es bueno ver que todavía hay vida en ti." dijo Sha-ra y abrazó a Alk con fuerza.

"Gracias" suspiró Alk y cerró sus ojos, "Pero estoy terriblemente frío." el dijo con un temblor en su voz.

"Haré que Arol te prepare un baño caliente." Sha-ra llamo al oso invernal.

Ilke miraba avergonzada el piso.

Arol cargó a Alk.

"Se torció un brazo y tiene algunos golpes, dale un baño caliente y ponle algunos aceites antes de llevarlo a su cama," Sha-ra instruyo al oso, "Tenemos que ser mas cuidadosos con quien congelamos en la pared." el dijo y volteó hacia Ilke. Sus poderes eran mas fuertes de lo que había pensado y podría ser peligroso si ella no aprendía a controlarlos.

Phenomena 1, Los Elegidos de la Profecía

Primer capitulo, La huida.

La nieve había caído todo el día, cuando llegó la tarde, una alfombra blanca cubría las montañas Santor. Había caminos de huellas entre las entradas a la mina y las pequeñas casas de piedra que yacían en circulo alrededor del espacio abierto de la aldea de los elfos. Fuera del circulo se encontraba una cabaña de madera que los mortoks usaban para vigilar.

El olor a caldo de raíz de abedul se percibía en el aire, era tiempo de la cena. Después de haber comido, los elfos se reunieron en el espacio abierto. Siete soldados mortok salieron marchando de la cabaña. El líder tenia una capa roja que hondeaba con el viento. El rugió una orden y los mortoks rodearon a los elfos. Uno de los soldados le dio un libro enorme.

"Ari" rugió y vapor salió disparado de su boca. Ari dio un paso al frente con su familia. El mortok lo anotó en su colosal libro.

"Harti!"

Ari y su familia podían caminar a su casa, Harti y Kiri dieron un paso al frente. El mortok comentó.

"Tiene problemas para caminar?"

El mortok miró detenidamente a Khiri. No había uso para los elfos enfermos.

"Honorado líder, ella solo está cansada después de un largo día". Dijo Harti e inclinó su cabeza.

"Hay alguna razón especial por lo cual esté cansada?" el mortok miro con dureza a Harti. Harti se mantenía de pie con la cabeza inclinada sin decir nada.

Khiri caminó hacia el mortok.

"Honrado líder, puedo caminar muy bien"

Luego dio la vuelta y comenzó a caminar “Harti, vas a venir?”.

Harti susurro una excusa y corrió a donde se encontraba Khiri.

El mortok los siguió con la mirada por un rato. Estaba a punto de gritar que regresaran, pero no lo hizo. Podía esperar a mañana. El viento era frío y quería apresurarse a regresar a la cálida cabaña de vigilancia.

Khiri colapso y cayó al suelo cuando entró en la casa. Harti rápidamente cerró la puerta y la cargo hasta la cama.

"Te encuentras bien?" susurró mientras acariciaba su frente. Ella estaba de un color rojizo y pequeñas gotas de sudor resbalaban por sus mejillas.

"Creo que el parto ha iniciado, tienes que ir por Mandor"

Ellos habían planeado todo el día que descubrieron que Khiri estaba embarazada. Los mortoks tomaban a los niños elfos y los llevaban en sus propios campamentos donde les enseñaban a cavar minerales en las partes mas angostas de las minas. El doctor de la aldea, Mandor, había perdido a su hijo en las minas el invierno pasado. Eso no le pasaría a su hijo. Harti mandó un ave mensajera al hechicero Sha-ra pidiendo su ayuda. Sha-ra era el último de una larga linea de hechiceros que protegían el antiguo libro Phenomena de profecías. Harti había conocido a Sha-ra hace 5 inviernos cuando escondió de al oso invernal Arol de los mortoks que lo cazaban. Harti esperaba que Sha-ra pudiera proteger a sus hijos también. Sha-ra dijo que podría hacerlo si Harti y Khiri lograban mantener el embarazo en secreto. Crearía mucha conmoción si alguno de sus esclavos desaparecía. Pero si ellos no se enteraban, no extrañarían a nadie.

Harti se apresuraba al mismo tiempo que miraba nerviosamente alrededor. Los mortoks son desconfiados así que tenía que ser cuidado para no ser percibido. Mandor estaba parado afuera y hablando con 2 mortoks. Harti se agachó detrás de una carreta y guardó su respiración. Podía sentir su sudor congelandose en su cuello. No podía escuchar lo que estaban hablando pero un mortok alzó la voz. Después hubo un silencio y se alejaron caminando. Harti observó cuidadosamente. Mandor estaba de pie fuera de su casa, Harti agitó su mano para llamar su atención. Mandor comprendió e ingresó a su casa por su bolsa. No pasó mucho tiempo cuando salió de nuevo.

"Los Mortoks piensan que gasto mucho tiempo en elfos que no pueden trabajar. Dicen que no debo desperdiciar mi tiempo en los ancianos y los discapacitados." Mandor dijo mientras se escabullían de vuelta a casa de Harti.

La oscuridad había cubierto la villa. Harti encendió una lampara de aceite y la puso en un taburete al lado de la cama. Khiri respiraba pesadamente y acariciaba con cariño la mano de Harti.

"Trae un recipiente con agua caliente y un paño frío." Ordenó Mandor mientras habría su bolsa negra.

Harti nunca había visto un parto antes y se paraba ahí mirando desamparado a Khiri.

"Agua caliente…" Mandor repitió.

Harti corrió afuera y volvió de inmediato con el agua.

"Puedo quedarme aquí?," preguntó "durante el parto?"

"Es inusual, pero sería útil la ayuda." Mandor lavó sus manos en el agua caliente e indicó a Harti que hiciera lo mismo.

Khiri respiraba pesadamente. “Ahora inicia”,  dijo en voz baja mientras apretaba los dientes.

Mandor tomó una pieza de madera y se la dio a ella.

"Muerde esto," dijo al sentarse enfrente de ella. "Ya es una apertura grande, puedo sentir la cabeza del bebé".

Khiri pujó. Mordió la madera mientras  lagrimas caían por sus mejillas.

Harti colocó el paño frío en su frente. Ella trató de sonreír.

"Sigue pujando!" ordenó Mandor.

Khiri apretó la mano de Harti.

"Ya puedo ver la cabeza, contaré hasta tres y pujas de nuevo."

Ella tensó su cuerpo en un arco y contuvo un grito.

Cuando Mandor se puso de pie, llevaba en brazos a un pequeño bebé. Puso su dedo en su minúscula boca para evitar que llorara. Si los mortoks los oyeran, sería el fin. El estaba obligado, como doctor, a reportar todos los nacimientos a la casa de vigilancia. Pero en esta ocasión no pensaba reportarlo.

"Felicitaciones, es una niña!." susurró.

Harti acaricio la frente de Khiri y quitó la madera de su boca.

"Khiri, es una niña!" dijo orgullosamente.

"Toma a la niña," dijo Mandor y se la entregó a Harto, "Ata un hilo alrededor de su cordón umbilical y usa este cuchillo para cortarlo."

Las manos de Harti temblaban mientras lo cortaba.

Khiri sonrió aliviada, pero el dolor volvió de nuevo.

Miró con preocupación a Mandor, “Está empezando otra vez!”.

El se puso en cuclillas frente a ella.

Khiri se aferro a Harti, usando toda su fuerza para no gritar del dolor.

Primero vino una cabeza con largo cabello claro, luego los hombros y el resto del cuerpo. Mandor se levantó con el bebé y sonrió ampliamente “Un niño!”.

Los infantes fueron reposados en el estomago de Khiri.

"El nombre se la niña será Ilke," dijo Harti, "porque ella vino primero, el niño se llamará Alk, porque esperó." Khiri sonrió exhausto después del parto.

"Alk e Ilke, conozcan a papá." dijo suavemente mientras miraba a Harti.

Ninguno de los niños hacía un solo ruido. Como si supieran que se suponía que ello eran un secreto. Para que los mortoks no los encontraran. “Mejor vuelvo a casa antes de que alguien note que no estoy ahí.” Mador dijo y empacó su bolsa. Harti lo siguió hasta la puerta. “Gracias.” le dijo y puso so mano sobre el hombro del medico.

"No hay necesidad de agradecerme. Solo se cuidadoso. Escuché que los mortoks hablan acerca de que el príncipe de hielo Hish anda afuera esta noche. Probablemente son tonterías pero puedo sentir que ha hecho mas frío. Recuerdas la historia donde un niño de la escarcha cumplirá la profecía de Phenomena?"

"No me asuste así," dijo Harti, " tengo suficiente con que preocuparme como para pensar acerca de las historias de terror que escuchábamos en la niñez."

Mandor apenas abrió la puerta y miró a ambos lados antes de salir apresuradamente.

"Harti," llamó Khiri cuando el empezó a empacar una bolsa con las cosas indispensables, "Quiero que les des a los niños la marca que muestra que son descendientes de los líderes."

"Pero Khiri, nadie a llevado esa marca desde que los mortoks volvieron a los elfos esclavos y nos prohibieron tenerla."

"Lo sé Harti," dijo ella mirando a los pequeños " Pero nuestros hijos crecerán en libertad y mostrarán que los elfos todavía tienen orgullo y dignidad." Luego miró a Harti. El asintió y reunió lo que necesitaba. Hizo una masa oscura, pegajosa y ligera con la que pintó a los niños.

"Pareciera que siempre lo hubieras hecho!" Khiri exclamó y miró profundamente a su esposo.

El sonrió de vuelta “He estado practicando en secreto desde que mi padre me enseñó.”

Los niños se mantuvieron absolutamente quietos mientras Harti hacía el diseño que iba desde un ojo bajando por el cuello y hasta el brazo.

"Khiri, tenemos que irnos pronto, es un largo viaje y tenemos que volver antes del amanecer." Harti se sentó en la orilla de la cama y miró a su pequeña familia. "Pero puedes lograrlo?".

Ella asintió.

La luna desapareció detrás de unas nubes. Estaba extremadamente oscuro. Harti y Khiri abrieron la puerta y se deslizaron hacía afuera. Antes de que la luna saliera de nuevo y arrojara su pálida luz sobre la villa, ellos ya se encontraban muy lejos. Alk e Ilke no hacían ningún sonido. Khiri los alimentó antes de salir, con la esperanza de que durmieran todo el camino.

Harti sacó una linterna de tormenta y la encendió. Bajo la intensidad de la flama para que diera solo un leve resplandor, suficiente para ver unos cuantos metros adelante.

Harti se detuvo y miró con atención. Observó una torre de vigilancia a lo lejos, pero no vio mortoks manteniendo guardia. Ellos tenían miedo del príncipe de hielo. Si Hish estaba fuera la noche pasada seguramente los mortoks se quedaban adentro.

Algún tiempo después llegaron a un risco donde la montaña bajaba en vertical. Harti se asomo por el risco y apenas podía divisar el suelo. Cuando planeó el escape, midió la caída, eran 20 metros. Harti tomó la cuerda de la mochila. Khiri lo observaba mientras fijaba la cuerda a la montaña con un clavo de metal y jalaba firmemente.

"Los niños primero"

Harti puso gentilmente a Alk e Ilke en la bolsa con una cobija suave sobre ellos. Ató la bolsa a la cuerda y los bajó lentamente.

La bolsa con los niños llego al suelo. Luego bajó Khiri y Harti después de ella.

Escondió el final de la cuerda con ramas para poder encontrarla cuando regresaran.

Khiri cargaba el bulto con los 2 niños. Acariciaba las cabezas de Alk e Ilke mientras Harti mantenía la linterna por encima de ellos. Era casi imposible diferenciarlos mientras dormían. Ella alzó la mirada para ver a Harti, el sonrió  y la besó en la frente.

"Anda, sigamos."

Iban entre los arboles. Ninguno de ellos se sentía completamente a salvo aun después de bajar la montaña. Ahora Harti podía oír al príncipe de hielo Hish silbando entre las ramas. Mientras estuvieran en el bosque el príncipe de hielo no podía hacer nada. Necesitaba un lugar para reunir nieve, viento y frío para volverse fuerte. Harti pensó sobre las historias de Hish que solía oír cuando niño. Lo había visto varias veces en el invierno, Hish era un extraño príncipe del aire. Nadie confiaba en el y los mortoks le temían, pero Hish no era malvado. Solo hace lo que quiere.

Harti y Khiri se acercaron al castillo del hechicero Sha-ra, que yacía en la cima de una colina. Estaban de pie en la orilla del bosque. Entre el bosque y el castillo había planicies cubiertas de nieve.

"Ahora" susurró Harti.

Salieron corriendo lo mas rápido que podían.

Estaba nevando mas fuerte. Los elfos apenas podían ver sus manos frente a ellos. El viento soplaba y se negaba a dejarlos avanzar. Harti intentó abrir un camino entre la nieve, pero el viento lo tomó y lo lanzó hacia atrás. Cubierto en nieve, se puso de pie y miró a Khiri. Estaba de rodillas aferrandose a Alk y a Ilke mientras el viento invernal trataba de arrebatarselos.

"Tu no te los llevaras! Harti gritó y se abalanzo sobre Khiri y los niños.

"Son mios!" aulló Hish.

El príncipe de hielo lo derrumbo de nuevo. Sostenía a Harti mientras la nieve lo enterraba. Aunque estaba cubierto por nieve, el podía ver a Hish arrancando a Ilke de los brazos de Khiri y a Alk llorando asustado. 

Súbitamente escucharon un rugido. Sha-ra había enviado ayuda. Era el oso invernal Arol quien vino a encontrarlos. Arol embistió de frente, batiendo a un lado a Hish y agarrando a Ilke. El príncipe de hielo elevo la nieve como un muro y la dejó caer sobre Arol.

Tardó unos segundos. Pero Arol lucho y salió de entre la nieve, el mantenía a Ilke bien protegida entre sus zarpas.

"Rapido, subanse en mi!" gritó.

Arol entregó la niña a Harti. Los elfos se apresuraron al lomo del oso. Se aferraron cuando salto a toda velocidad en dirección al castillo. Pero el príncipe de hielo no se había rendido.

"Ella me pertenece!" les gritaba, cuando alcanzaron la puerta del castillo, el la cerró con una gruesa capa de hielo. Arol se detuvo y se aproximo silenciosamente con la cabeza baja.

"Soy uno de los últimos osos invernales. He peleado contra ti antes!" Arol le gruño al príncipe de hielo. La determinación de Arol dejo a Hish inseguro y el hielo comenzó a derretirse. En ese momento Arol se alzó en dos patas y destrozó el hielo con su zarpa. La puerta se abrió con fuerte sonido chillante.

Phenomena book 1 – Chapter 2 – In the wizard's castle.

In the castle was it warm, and torches burned on the walls. Arol held his paws around Harti and Khiri, whom shivered from fear and cold. They almost couldn’t believe that they had been saved from the frost prince. They followed Arol through a long hallway and up wide stone stairs. He showed them in to a huge room where Sha-ra sat and waited. Sha-ra made sign to make them sit in front of the fireplace. Khiri held the children tight while she tried to warm them. - “Get something to cover them.” Sha-ra said to Arol. Arol went out the door and came back with some wool carpets. He kept standing looking at Alk and Ilke. His polar bear snout noticed that something wasn’t like it was supposed to. He carefully bowed down. “Sha-ra, this one child doesn’t breathe. The skin is completely light blue.” he said.

Khiri looked worried at her daughter. Sha-ra hurried over to Khiri and lifted Ilke up. He carefully examined the elf child, and put his ear onto her and listened. - “She is breathing, but weakly. The frost prince has blown his spirit into her. She has probably become a frost child.” Khiri got a scared look in her face and placed her hand on her mouth to stop a small scream. “You do not need to worry, nothing bad will happen to her,” Sha-ra said, “But it is the first time Hish has given an elf child a frost spirit. She will have abilities not other children have, but other than that will she be like any other child.”. -”A frost child?” said Harti wondering. -”I will take good care of her, you do not need to be afraid. They will grow up to be wonderful children. The only thing she will not handle well is heat. I will give her an amulet that will protect her.” Sha-ra said and rose up. Harti and Khiri bowed over the two children and cried. Sha-ra came in and attached a medallion around Ilke’s neck. She woke up and laughed towards her parents. -”It is of importance that you get back before sunrise and the mortoks realize that you are gone.” Sha-ra said. -”Take good care of them.” Harti said and grabbed Sha-ra’s arm. Sha-ra nodded. “Stay for a while and get something to eat. You have time for that.” Harti thanked and looked at Khiri, whom held the children tight. When they had eaten, fed Harti and Khiri a child each, sometimes they exchanged looks and tried to smile to each other. They wanted to enjoy this last time together with the children, since they never knew if they’d ever meet them again.

While the elves ate, had Arol been sitting with closed eyes and remembered his own family. He imagined the huge mountains, all the winter bears and the snow where he belonged, and then he fell asleep. When he awoke with a jolt, was the fire going out. Harti and Khiri had left, and on the floor the children slept tightly packed into the carpets. Arol noticed the medallion Ilke had around her neck. The necklace was a gem made of ice with burning fire in the middle, the bezel was in silver and was shaped like two dragon wings. He touched the medallion with his paws, it was icy cold. Arol went into the wizard’s study, there Shara stood over a huge book. - “Come and sit here!” Sha-ra said exited. Arol was surprised over that Sha-ra, whom usually was calm, was now almost shivering with excitement*. -”I have waited for this for a very long time,” Sha-ra begun, “Those two elf children can actually be the chosen ones!” -”The chosen ones..?” Arol didn’t understand anything. -”According to the book of wisdom, the Phenomena, can our small guests be the chosen ones that are going to free the the elves from the mortokian slavery and save the world from Tarkan!” Sha-ra guided his finger down the page. -”Here it is,” he said when he found it, “In the days when the winter chest blooms from the buttercup’s eye shall…” -”Sha-ra, you know very well that I don’t understand anything of that book!” Arol sighed in an annoyed tone. -Sha-ra looked up. -”My apologizes, I didn’t mean to…” -The wizard coughed before he continued. “It is written her, that when Tarkan stands with his troops on the fields know as Gredom, shall two chosen elves av gathered their people. They shall defeat the evil thought and there will be peace in the country.” -”What does even ‘the evil thought’ mean, and how can one defeat it?” -”Tarkan isn’t a being, but a thought. An evil thought. Tarkan finds someone who wants to think it, and then the person becomes Tarkan. To kill Tarkan is to kill the evil thought. Sha-ra looked at Arol to make sure he understood, and then he continued: “Before the battle at Gredom shall the chosen ones gather the elves to one people and free them from the slavery of the mortoks. One of the elves is refered in the prophecy as ‘prince** of visdom’ and ‘king of justice’, the other, as it is written here, is ‘daughter of the frost’.” The wizard stopped and looked at Arol. -”So that’s why the prince of the frost tried to take Alk and Ilke…” Arol whispered. -”Yes, Hish knew this. He wants to be certain that the prophecy is fulfilled. But it is not that easy. Prophecies fulfill themselves, but sometimes they need a little help. Without knowing it has Hish already fulfilled the prophecy by making Ilke ‘daughter of the frost’.” -”Is Hish on our side?” Arol growled. -”Hish is confused and hungering for power. He stands on the side with the good, but sometimes he does things he should not. Things that hurts others, he isn’t always as good at showing respect.! -”Is there more?” Arol wondered. -”Yes, much more is written. It says that they will grow up far away from their own people and ride the prince of the snow kingdom.” “Is that, me?” Arol interrupted. The wizard smiled before he continued. “When the wind from the north grows stronger and the winter chest gets blown away like leaves on the trees in the autumn, shall Tarkan stand forth as a roaring lion and mislead the people. Then the chosen ones will travel the lands to stop the grieving moon, ‘know when the thought stands forth and heed on this word’, is it written.”. Sha-ra looked at Arol. “And when Tarkan shows himself must the chosen ones travel to the Efraiber Spring and stop the rain there.” -”Doesn’t the water in the Efraiber Spring come down from a mysterious hole in the sky?” Arol wondered. Sha-ra nodded. “Yes. And from that very hole can Tarkan gather strength from space which he can use to get more power and get even more powerful. That’s why the chosen ones has to stop the rain.” Arol thought of the small elven children who was sleeping. -“Do you thing they’ll get strong enough to fulfill the prophecy and defeat Tarkan?” he said worried, “They seem so small and weak.”. -”The prophecy can only be fulfilled by children, Tarkan has too much power over adults.” said Sha-ra with a serious tone. Arol stood for a long time and thought over what Sha-ra had said. Was it really that simple? -”I think it’s time to give the children something to eat.” He said. -”Yes, the sun is already rising,” Sha-ra said, “I will make some gruel.” Arol had never seen Sha-ra so determined before. He walked over to the book which was open. On top of the page was it written with neat letters: ‘Prophecy’s chosen ones, report written by the first of the book’s guardians.’. Arol flipped some pages, the writing was squiggly, and multiple places was the ink drawn over where someone had closed the book before it had dried. His paw stopped at one word. ‘Sherpa’s prophecy,’ he spelled. -”Give act on Sherpa’s prophecy, because in it will the chosen ones be exterminated with swords and none will ever again yell their names, because the memory of them is forgotten,” Sha-ra said. Arol twitched, the wizard stood in the door opening and looked at him. -”I have fed the small ones, they now sleep in the tower chambers.” he said calmly. -”You never said anything about another prophecy,” Arol said, “A prophecy where the chosen ones die and Tarkan will rule in Aldra!”. -”It is up to us if the prophecy in Phenomena shall be fulfilled. Tarkan will do anything he can to stop them from doing so, therefore we have to help them.”. -”How can you be sure it’s not Sherpa’s prophecy will be fulfilled?” Arol said, “Even the book isn’t sure which prophecy that will be fulfilled. As far as I remember is Sherpa one of the greatest wizards who have ever lived.”. -”Lives,” Sha-ra said, “He’s still alive.” -”Alive?” Arol didn’t know what to believe, “If he’s alive does he have to be around…” -”Quite accurately 9653 years,” Sha-ra said, “It’s him who keeps Tarkan alive and has taught him everything he knows.” -”And the children are going to fight him?” Sha-ra nodded. -”I don’t understand anything anymore,” Arol said and shook the huge polar bear head, “Why is the one Prophecy written in Phenomena going to happen and not the other?” -”Everything written in the book is the mighty King Veha’s words. They where written down by mighty wizards, the five Azhel chose before they went to the winter lands.” Sha-ra answered. -”Mighty wizards? Your master, the wizard Arkin, whom was a direct descendant of Azhel, went mad and sat fire onto his castle!” Arol roared. Sha-ra saw strictly on him. Arol suddenly felt bad over what he had said. He remembered that his grandfather had told him that for four-hundred winters and a summer ago, Arkin’s castle had burnt down to the ground. The winter bears and the people around had come to help putting the fire out. They had made a chain down to the lake and filled buckets with water which they threw at the fire, but it seemed that the flames had a will of their own. Inside the castle was there a wizard and his students, two twin brothers. Arol’s grandfather had said that after the fire had been put out, a little boy had been standing there and cried. The boy had lost his twin brother in the fire. The day after had he gone and collected the books the fire hadn’t damaged. Then he had left the winter land. Arol knew that the little boy was Sha-ra. -”Arkin was one in a long line of wizards who had fought Sherpa and evil in the north.” Sha-ra continued, “He was one in the long line of guardians of the prophecy book Phenomena. In it is it written stories about this world, from when it rose from the ocean for billions of winters ago.”. He looked at Arol. -”But Sherpa lived long before the book was written!” Arol said. -”Evil exist to contrary of the good. Good exist because of evil.” Sha-ra sighed, “In the Phenomena it is written what will happen if the evil was allowed to exterminate the good. Aldra would be a horrible place where people live in fear, children can’t grow up without being scared. They cannot even be certain if they are going to grow up.” Sha-ra breathed. “Do I have a choice? I have been chosen to help the children fulfill the prophecy. If I doubt we can do it, will we never be able to do it.” The winter bear looked at Sha-ra for a long while. -”We’ll be able to do it.” Arol said Sha-ra closed the book. The room was filled by a blue light, and a milesign showed itself in the air. Sha-ra placed his hand on it and closed his eyes, the milesign changed itself to many other signs before it disappeared and the book was locked. -”You are the first in 913 years who has not been a wizard that has looked inside this book.” Sha-ra said and smiled. -”I can keep a secret.” Arol answered and smiled back.

The first winters the elf children lived was the frost prince Hish sneaking around the castle to see how they where doing, and because of that the winters was colder than usual. Sha-ra used to put on a thick coat and go out to Hish. Sometimes he would be standing outside for hours and told him about everything the elf children was doing, and what they had learned. Hish had several times times tried to convince Sha-ra to let him have the children, but Sha-ra had declined. Because of that had he kept Alk and Ilke inside the castle the first winters, he was afraid Hish would take the children by force. Alk liked crawling around on the floor inside, while Ilke often stood by the window and looked curious on the snow that fell and covered the ground. Sometimes did she lick the window and pretended she caught snow on her tongue. When three winters had went by, did Hish realize that he couldn’t fulfill the prophecy, and he felt bad for the children who couldn’t be outside and play in the snow. So he promised Sha-ra that he’d stay away.

As the children grew, did Arol teach them everything polar bear cubs should know to manage to live out in the wild. He even had tried to teach them to smell the difference between raspberries and blueberries. But understood it could get difficult. Differently from bears, did they have small noses. Their eyes wasn’t especially big either. And even though they was twins, where they really different. While Alk focused on scenting the raspberry, did Ilke eat it. But on the other hand was Ilke great at fighting. She threw herself fearless over Arol to pin him to the ground, and bit, scratched and hit as much as she could manage. Even when Arol held her, did she growl and turned around like a wild cat and refused to give up. Alk however preferred reading. One evening when Arol finally managed to get him to put the book down and train martial arts, did he use some time before he attacked. He studied Arol, and made a plan. Then he jumped at him and crawled around on the winter bear while Arol tried to catch him.

-”Are you giving up!” Alk yelled and held around his neck. Arol laughed and shook. Alk lost his grip and rolled around on the floor. He rose up and rubbed his shoulder. -”Come on!” Arol said with a smile, “You are not giving up that easily are you?” -”Forget about it.” Alk said and looked annoyed at Arol. “You are too strong, and I am only a child and you are a huge grown up winter bear! And besides I was reading, I think I will continue with that.” Alk went and sat down to read the book again. -”Don’t worry about him!” Ilke said, “Teach me some tricks so I can beat him later tonight!” When they went to bed for the night, Alk asked Ilke if she could teach him some of the tricks Arol had taught her. -“Why don’t you make Arol teach you?” -”It”s much better if you show me,” Alk said and grinned, “I can beat you.” -”Just you try!” she yelled back and threw a pillow after him.

Arol stood outside the door and listened. He smiled, Alk and Ilke could never become any winter bears. But he hoped they could learn enough to be able to defend themselves when they grew up. -”Did they not want milk with warm honey?” Sha-ra asked when he came down. -”No they where sleeping like babies.” Sha-ra listened to the noise from the tower chambers. -”It sounds more like they’re throwing rocks.” he said and shook his head.

Sha-ra taught them about the universe, about the people living around them, and the art of performing simple magic. They learned to lift up small objects from the floor and letting them fly around in the room, and to hypnotize rodents that came to look for food. Sha-ra also used much time to teach Ilke how to control her powers, she had noticed that she froze her bedsheets to ice during the night without really knowing why or how. In the start did she think it was frightening, but Sha-ra told her about the mighty winter powers that lived inside her and what would happen if she didn’t learn to control them. One day was Ilke going to freeze a bucket with water. Sha-ra had given Alk the task of reading a book about the ancient roamers. -”When you look at the bucket you are going to think about the water that is in it.” Sha-ra said and crouched down next to Ilke. She narrowed her eyes looking stiffly ahead of her. -”Then you think about ice and cold,” he continued, “Do you feel the frost inside of you? Collect it all in one place and try to send it to the water.” She concentrated, and the water in the bucket slowly became ice. Alk was changing pages in the book when it slipped out from his lap. He desperately tried to grip it before it hit the floor with a loud noise. Ilke lost her concentration and turned towards Alk, and all the frost that she had built up was thrown at him with tremendous powers. Alk felt the pain of intense cold on the skin, and he was throw towards the wall. Because of the cold which threw itself down his throat and his lungs, did he not manage to scream. The collision had thrown all air out of him and he was laying on the floor gasping desperately for air. The frost smoke went out from him and he was covered in snow. Sha-ra ran to Alk. -”Try to breathe calmly.” he said and lay himself over Alk to warm him. Alk grabbed Sha-ra and breathed small breaths. -”It is good to see that there’s life in you.” Sha-ra said and held Alk tight. -”Thanks” Alk whispered and closed his eyes, “But I’m terribly cold.” he said and shivered in his voice. -”I will make Arol make a warm bath for you.” Sha-ra said and called the winter bear. Ilke looked embarrassed down onto the floor. Arol lifted Alk up. -”He has sprained one arm and got some swellings, give him a warm bath and rub him with some oils before you lay him in bed,” Sha-ra said to the winter bear, “We have to be more careful with who we freeze to the wall.” he said and turned towards Ilke. Her powers was stronger than he first had thought, and it could get dangerous if she didn’t learn to control them.

Translator’s note: in the book is this a whole 14 pages..! There���s a total of 3190 words! As the compy with the first translation was acting weird did I re-translate it all, spent a whole day..! * I love how a 400+ years old wizard is fangirling xD ** Prince as in fũrst here as well. I dislike how Alk gets all those fancy titles while Ilke only gets ‘daughter’… :|. By the way Arol is a prince of the kind of ‘son of a king’ kind. I guess it’s more practical knowing a Germanic language and reading it in that, like Norwegian and German where the words are different. Why do they even share words in English anyway?!

Thanks for reading, the next chapter is 12 pages long :|. Not exactly looking forward to it… well until next time, bye bye!

Phenomena 1 - 29kr edition special author's foreword.

It was in the middle of October the year 2000, I think it was around the 12th, when I received a postcard.    It was quite cold outside, I remember standing by the letterbox and reading the card while I felt the autumn wind blowing cold and it was wet on the ground.    Everything is actually cold when you dare to get outside on a late autumn day in just a t-shirt, trousers and slippers.    There wasn't much on the card, only: Meet me here two o'clock.    Nothing more.    I turned the card around, it was a picture of Nidarosdomen.    I read the card again and looked at my cellphone, I had a couple of hours until the clock was two.    I went inside again, turned on music and ate, while I wondered who could have sent me the card.    Then I decided, I've always been curious, and the card in the letterbox had made me more than curious.

   A little before two was I outside the church with the bike.   There was nobody there, I admit having a screaming feeling of that someone tried having me as the butt of a joke.    That someone sat at home and almost laughed themselves to death,  it is not everyday I go out on a cold and wet autumn day because of a postcard in my letterbox.     When I had been standing there shivering for 10 minutes, did I sigh and decided to get up on the bike again and ride it to downtown, maybe I could sit down at Erichsens konditori and take a cup of cocoa to get up the heat.     That was when I saw him.

     He came sauntering along the gravel road, he didn't look to be in a hurry, but he walked towards me.      As if he recognized me. I didn't know him.      I'd say that, I don't know any adults that wear custom monk robes with the hood drawn over half the face.       - "Are you Ruben Eliassen?" he asked.      - "Yes." I answered, probably in a surprised tone.      - "It's you who are the writer, are you not?"      - "Well," I answered, "I haven't written anything yet."      - "I want you to write my story."      - "Your story?"      - "It's not only my story, mostly is it the story of two children I put above everything else. I want you to write it as their story."      Then he pulled the hood away from his face.      He was serious, but the intense look was what fascinated me.      - "Who are you?" I asked.      - "In your world am I known as sir Thomas."      - "Sir Thomas?"      My brain went crazy, there was something familiar with that name.      - "You mean sir Thomas, as in sir Thomas Malory ... ?"      He smiled and nodded.      - "But he died in..." (I couldn't remember which year, I'm better on faces than names and numbers.)      - "I pulled back in 1471." he was still smiling.      I looked confused around.      - "There is nobody mocking you." He said seriously.      - "You read my thoughts?"      He nodded. "In the other world am I known as King Veha, the creator. I want you to write the story about Alk And Ilke, about the wizard Sha-ra and the bravest and most knowledgeable winter bear I have got to know, namely the winter prince Arol.       - "I'm not sure that's a good idea..." I said.       - "But I am." he answered and asked me to sit on a bench next to a rainy bush.

      This is the story.       I have tried to write it down just as king Veha told it to me.

                                                                                              Ruben Eliassen.

Translator's note: You can buy the book (in Norwegian) to support him here, click on Gyldendal Agency after clicking "Legg i handlekurv" to change it to English, if the page changes to Norwegian again at the check-out feel free to ask me for translation. Google is a great currency converter, type in 29kr to [insert your currency here] and you'll know what it is in your. Thanks for reading. And sorry for all the delays with chapter 2, still working on it.