Chapter 3: Ivronel
Kleos was lead into the wilderness of the Cinnamount woods. He carried no money or items of value, nor any substance to appease his hunger. The cover of night was his shelter during that time; and once he entered a remote area of the wood, he began to pray. This place was not only a spot for prayer, but also for a meeting. Forty days went by and the pain of thirst and hunger came upon Kleos, but it did not overtake him. It was at this time that a certain visitor arrived, allowed to tempt without restraint, yet would fail in his attempt as you will see.
A bitter, cold freeze swept over the area where Kleos knelt. His fur was instantly frozen along with the grass and the trees. The ground crunched under the weight of an invisible behemoth. With every step the beast became visible like an artist‘s brush stoke bringing him to light. The beast stopped a few feet away from the panda. Dranus looked down on the kneeling figure with all malice and fearful reprisal, knowing Glory, the same who had defeated him in the world of night, was in his midst.
Dranus‘s breath was a frosty mist. The unicorn flapped his wings to cause a great gale. Kleos never moved despite the unicorn's efforts; and after seeing that his actions were futile, the unicorn quietly laughed and tucked his wings against his sides, yet his laughter conveyed his knowing of his final end: to be crushed and conquered; to be chained forever for casting sin upon God‘s creation. But he had no purpose but to kill, steal, and destroy; and so he did what his nature drove him to do.
"A month and ten days you have fasted and prayed," said the unicorn. " You look famished, it‘s a shame there is no food around. It‘s not very nice for your Father to leave you starving–very undignified I must say."
With his hoof the unicorn kicked a stone, rolling it near the Kleos.
"If you are God‘s Son, turn that stone into bread and make the dew of the grass into sweet nectar to quench your thirst: for a son shares his father's power. If you are the Son, surely you can do this."
Kleos spoke.
The unicorn walked slowly to the right of Kleos. His gaze was fixed on the red panda, never blinking. Suddenly with the subtle wave of his wings, the Cinnamount woods faded away and both creatures were standing on the roof of the tallest building in Shavron.
Many citizens were below.
"Jump," said the unicorn, "For this is truth: the Holy One will never see you to harm and will aid you so that you do not fall or dash your foot against a stone. So jump and prove this truth.
But what Dranus said was not the complete truth, but Kleos did.
With the sooth in its proper place, Dranus had no foundation to stand on. Finally, in a third attempt, Dranus roared like a ragging lion, and the scenery of the buildings in Shavron disappeared. He brought Kleos on a mountaintop showing all the land below: rivers, trees, hills, and more.
"Look around you," said Dranus, "All that you see is under me; for my power is evident, but," he said pausing, "I will surely give all to you, if you would just bow and worship me."
But Kleos said,
Like the turning of a dial, the Cinnamount Woods returned. The unicorn, always an underling, fled in a cowardly gallop disappearing in the wood. The sunlight beamed down on the red panda, the coldness of the evil one was removed, and the sweet smell of the forest filled his nostrils. The panda fixed his eyes back on the gates of Shavron and went to get something to eat.