{"id":480,"date":"2025-07-27T01:09:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T01:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/concentrikey.com\/?page_id=480"},"modified":"2026-01-18T04:58:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T04:58:22","slug":"the-world-outside-the-shell-chapter-5","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/concentrikey.com\/?page_id=480","title":{"rendered":"The World Outside The Shell – Chapter 5"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The World Outside The Shell<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 5<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The staff with the StarStone was on the floor of the cottage, but but the map was gone. I looked around the room, unsure of what happened.

The door was gone.

“Did the mirror images of the Lady Ri all work together to unlock the key to the magic I created? The hero of this world is an impressive talent for a human.”

The loud metal pounding on the outside of the shell was gone. I searched for other artifacts in the cottage, but time passed and I could not find another map or other clues about the world outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The StarStone glowed and hummed a soft melody. I was curious about the ancient artifact and the stories Lady Ri shared during her brief visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walls and floor shook and I fell to the floor.

“StarStone, turn the key!” I held the powerful artifact and commanded the staff to create an opening to the outside world in the cottage, but no door appeared.

Instead, I found myself transported in a flash of bright light, in the bodily form of a small turtle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venn was holding me in one hand, while pounding the shell with a large rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was lifted into the sack and carried out of the marsh lands and back to the forest. I tried to claw a hole in the fabric, but soon gave up the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWake up,\u201d said Venn, \u201cLady Ri commands you to return the staff!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mood quickly changed when I heard the snap of tree limbs and the rush of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venn ran into the forest, leaping through the overgrown underbrush and climbing the steep hill. \u201cTurtle, I can see a wall of water flooding the marsh lands. The dams in the north have broken! Please return Lady Ri to this world!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease stone hammering my shell! Are you a good cook Venn? I found an old recipe in my pantry to mix sweet grass with bitter-roots and top it with sour drops from the brill fish. Are you hungry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venn lifted the sack to face and shouted a reply. \u201cFood? At a time like this? Lady Ri found the map you stole from the temple of our ancestors, but we need you to read the map.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I said, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vann was holding my torso in one hand, while pounding the back of the shell with a large rock. \u201cThe problem with you turtle, is the lack of concern for the danger…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was too frustrated to respond. I was quickly dropped into the sack and carried out of the marsh land.

Venn laughed when I tried to escape. \u201cBe still, turtle!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I said, \u201cThe prophecy seeker has a flawed opinion of the world, being too concerned about keeping all things unchanged.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short bald man, Venn said, \u201cLady Ri is not the prophecy seeker, she is the prophecy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I said, \u201cAre we lost?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world blurred and I sensed a change in the StarStone. I was standing in the cottage, and Lady Ri was holding the staff and chanting in a monotone voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The room wavered into blurred mist and I was surrounded by the mirrors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The person looking back at me was a young man in robes similar to the green robe patterns worn by the Lady Ri with the exception of a large turtle sewn with thread on the back. I watched as the two arms and two legs of a human form transformed into the legs of a turtle. The robe transformed into a green shell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mirrors dissolved and i fell to the floor. I noticed a sense of movement and the familiar damp air of the marsh lands returned.

Ven said, \u201cTurtle! The marsh lands are gone. The lake is reborn, we must hurry.\u201d He was holding me and talking, but I was too dazed to hear the words as he continued rambling on with a panicked look on his round face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was dropped into the sack as the ground rumbled and shook outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The watery home I knew and loved, a great basin of marsh land collapsed into a deep hole and the sides of the forest edge became a sheer cliff of rock and the hole quickly filled with water and a new lake was born as Venn raced into the woods, climbing to higher ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The roar of thunder frightened me and I pulled my head into my shell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Continued<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Short Story Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Concentrikey \u00a9 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The World Outside The Shell Chapter 5 The staff with the StarStone was on the floor of the cottage, but but the map was gone. I looked around the room, unsure of what happened. 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