Beyond the maps, where legends dwell, I ventured into the unknown While many have possibly traveled paths such as these Mine were completely unaltered and untouched Nobody but me saw the smiles that flashed Across your face like rabbits in a field Nobody but me felt your hand As you swung your legs cleanly off the rocks Nobody but me has heard your serenades Wake chirping birds in the shallow hours of the morn But these paths have been treacherous as well Only I have felt the scorn you have Thrown at me between your teeth Only I have felt the coldness when you have Left me by myself in a fit of rage But now I am done Like the great Phineaouse Fogg I rest my case My travels have been long and I am tired So I rest my laurels in my own chair And look gracefully at our time together

Beyond the maps, where legends dwell, I ventured into the unknown, a living hell. The day was hot, the sun beat down, But soon enough, rain clouds gathered 'round.

drops fell fast, and thunder roared, I realized I was ill-prepared, oh lord! No shelter in sight, no phone in hand, Lost in the wilderness, feeling unmanned.

With each step, the mud grew deep, And I cursed myself for my reckless leap. Forgetting my phone, a foolish mistake, Now stranded alone, for goodness' sake!

Soaked to the bone, with no way to call, I trudged onward, feeling small. But through the rain and the growing dread, I vowed to make it home, no matter what lay ahead.

For beyond the maps, where legends dwell, I found myself in a tale I'd rather not tell. So heed my warning, adventurous friend, Stick to the roads, and don't pretend, That you can conquer the unknown alone, For sometimes, it's best to stay your ass at home

“Nope not that. No beyond maps or venturing. Venturing means we choose to go. The only thing you have right is that we are all in the unknown.”

Ethan couldn’t understand why. They were lost, the streets were busy and loud.

He couldn’t believe that he got talked into this. Before he even realised what was going on Alex and Olly has whisped the trio into central London. Blindfolded and given only the name of a pub and a street their mission was to make it there using only street signs and the underground.

“You’re always so serious.” Sam chided, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. “This should be fun, we are able to be normal. It’s what we have all wanted.”

Ethan rolled his eyes. She was right, as she normally was, but he wasn’t about to just give in so easily.

“You take the lead then.” Ethan said, handing the crumpled map to her.

“I have been waiting for you to ask.” She beamed, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek forcing his head away so Shay wouldn’t see him blushing.

“So we are currently at London Bridge, we need to get to a place called Junkyard golf. They say that it’s near Moorgate. Ok that’s easy enough, we just need to find an underground train station.

“A tube.” Ethan said.

“Bless you.” Sam laughed.

“No the underground train. It’s called a tube.”

“Oh. Why’s it called that?”

“I’ve always wondered the same. Chloe laughed at me when I asked.”

Shay was watching the two of them talk about a hilariously pointless topic and smiled. Here they were, two of the strongest Empowered known to the world. Both smiling and jabbing at eachother while trying to figure out a map.

She almost couldn’t believe the situation they were in. More so than any adventure or any trap or any mission, watching the two of them go back and forth about directions made her happy.

They had made it. They made it to the point they had all hoped for. After all the battles and all the heartbreak, finally a life they could call their own.

“Uh oh. Ethan has to let someone else lead. Watch out Shay, I think he is about to start brooding again.” Sam laughed loudly, gently elbowing Shay.

Shay burst out laughing at Ethan’s reaction and the two girls stood, leaning on each other, both racked in laughter.

“Whatever.” Ethan huffed.

This set the girls off even more. Sam dropping to her knees slapping the ground barely able to get a breath in.

“Oh god. Stop please, I can’t.” Sam choked.

Far throughout these lands, afar the desert sands, I discover new beings and souls, and realise it’s the ancient shoals. The ancient shoals of fish that shimmer, As I enter caves the light gets dimmer, Luminous algae blanket the water’s rise, And a whole new world opens up in front of my eyes.

beyond the maps where legends dwell, I ventured into the unknown with a space ship and a strange radio signal

ahead, the charts supposed, was a timeless torrent of gases unformed, unknowing and unimpressed with life

behind was my kind dog missing me, saying, Master, where are you going there’s nowhere

somewhere hope leads to, curiosity reaches, desperation makes different than an inferno for the arrogant

somewhere imagined that could be believed enough to find, or, in finding, made from a dream

beyond the impossible circumstance of a local circle, or the sum of squared differences, yet not a wreck tangle

I have made an immense effort to go elsewhere yet to land back where I started, having proven elsewhere is there!

Beyond the maps where legends dwell I ventured into the unknown. The stars my guide, the waves my friend, And comfort be my foe.

The shore of pain and betrayal Slowly fades into the sea. The limitless Blue Horizon Of my new life beckons me.

Beyond the maps, Where legends dwell, I ventured into the unknown In search of something Even i couldn’t put a finger on I set off Without a clue in the world As to where i was destined Urning for something more

Someday, when you tire of this world, you will find a door.

It will be ancient, scarred cedar wood that feels like an old friend. You will knock on it. Whisper the answer to the question asked. Shh- softer than that. Speak too loudly and you risk scaring it. Magic is rather fragile, and the door is quite shy.

Pause here. Remember all you have to give up and all you may gain. Remember the instructions given to you long ago and the rules governing magic.

Are you ready?

Good.

Pick up your sword. Open the door. Begin your adventure.

You will follow a path through a forest filled with mushrooms that tower far over your head and old, old, trees. You may take berries for food, wood for fire and the occasional log to rest on but only what you need. No matter what, always thank the dryads. They live for thousands of years and hold grudges even longer.

Deep in the heart of the woods lies a sprawling manor. It will be filled with gnomes- dancing, singing, creating those clever illusions that they are so famous for. Be polite, and they will allow you to pass through. They will offer you gifts: beautiful trinkets, elegantly crafted. You will decline them respectfully. To take them would be to owe them a debt, and you can’t let anything get in the way of your journey.

Greet the gulls at the stairs of the sky. Listen to them. They have come a long way and have good stories to tell.

Do not enter the sky. The monster inside will not let you pass through its domain as easily as the dryads. Continue on.

You will find a sleeping princess in a castle choked with ivy and magic. You could kiss her, but you aren’t the right person, nor have you come at the right time. Curses are finicky things.

Instead, explore the castle. Watch the ghosts of the maids, cooks, kings and dogs that once lived here. Fix the crumbling walls, so when a prince does come, he has a place to sleep. Try on the bejeweled dress and finery that somehow fits you perfectly and spin, smiling at how pretty you look. Remember that riches always invite calamity. Pause. Put them carefully back in the wardrobe. Finish repairing the stable roof. Leave these empty halls.

Do not follow the silver birds. They are faeries in disguise. Or do. Follow them, venture into the Fae realm and meet its aloof, graceful inhabitants with their haunting voices.

Some of them mean to trick you. Do not allow yourself to be enchanted.

Some of the ones you meet will be friends. Remember them. They will help you on your way.

If you are lucky (you are very, very, lucky), you may fall in love with a few. Continue on. Try to forget what her laugh sounded like.

If you are unlucky (you are horribly, tragically unlucky) one may love you back. Continue on. Try to forget what her lips felt like before you left her world forever.

Leave this enchanted city.

Two paths will stretch in front of you. One of them is the right path. The other one is not wrong. It is unknown. Remember that there are no wrong paths and take the second one. Do not look back.

At the end of the path, you find the underworld. Stay vigilant. You will face demons. You will face old, forgotten gods. You will never face an angel, although you have felt the heat of many eyes glaring at you from the deepest parts of the earth. Do not stare back. Do not stay long. Those worlds are not for your kind to see. Be brave and think of all you have come through- your thoughts will protect you until you find the surface again.

Follow the mountains until you reach the sea. Beware of griffins- they love gold, hate trespassers and are far cleverer than you.

Travel by the shore of the sea for a while. It’s quiet there. It may take you years to find what you’re looking for. You may walk along the coast until the forests burn, the princesses wake, the elven cities crumble, the caverns of the underworld collapse and every last story in the world is told, until one day, at last…

you will find a door, one that looks familiar, an old friend from a lifetime ago. It will ask a question, and you will answer how you always have. No, again- louder than that. The door is very old, and it can be a bit hard of hearing at times.

Pause here. Remember all you have given up and all you have gained. Remember the instructions given to you long ago and the rules governing magic.

Are you ready?

Good.

Pick up your sword. Open the door. Begin your adventure.

Beyond the maps, Where legends dwell, I ventured into the unknown. The world seems to end, The time seems to stop, As I ventured into the unknown.

I walked on water, I lived in lava, When I ventured into the unknown. I found a love, A home, A life, Once I ventured into the unknown.

Beyond the maps, where legends dwell, I ventured into the unknown. I seek a fate unfathomable, for mortals to know.

Not very special Just too scared to not go The legend is intriguing And a very curious thing

Who knows what lies ahead of me? The rocky shores of Galilee What brings me to this place A place of legend

The man which I seek walked these shores I seek the truth behind the book That tells of what he did

A book that spouts his word as law Hold dominion over souls But he was just a mortal man With a mortal soul

The legends dwell around me And give this place new life I find myself believing More than I ever have