The Celestial Saga: Realms

Chapter 2

Charmaine



Netta moved efficiently around the chamber, securing the last of the travel gear while I fastened the straps across my shoulders.

“Be safe, my queen,” Netta said, handing me a small pack.

I accepted it with a small smile. “I always am, Netta.” Netta didn’t return the smile. She never did before a departure. She was constantly worried about my wellbeing. Even though I was quite powerful, everyone has their weak points. Across the room, Serena leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed, already impatient.

“If this turns out to be another human resource crisis,” she muttered, “I’m done. I mean it this time. I’m not crossing realms every few months because they can’t stop destroying their own world.” Avalon tightened the straps on her own gear, her expression equally unimpressed.

“They strip forests, poison their water, overwork their land, and then we have to fix the balance system,” she said flatly. “At some point, natural consequences should be allowed to occur.”

Serena nodded immediately. “Exactly. Let it collapse. Maybe they’ll learn.” I glanced between them, finishing the final adjustments.

“If this is another routine imbalance,” I said calmly, “we won’t intervene beyond stabilizing the portal.” Both sisters looked at me, shocked. I held their gaze.

“Earth was given the same autonomy as every other realm,” I continued. “If they choose to destroy their resources, they’ll face the results. We are guardians of balance, not caretakers of their choices.”

Serena straightened, satisfied. “Good. Because I’m not saving them from themselves again.”

Avalon nodded once. “Agreed.” I stepped toward the portal chamber entrance.

“But this beacon isn’t routine,” I added quietly. That pulled their attention back. The gateway stood at the center of the chamber, a circular frame of carved stone and suspended crystal, faint lines of light pulsing along its inner ring. Every realm had one. Anchored in hidden locations, shielded from discovery, and maintained by those assigned to its care. The portals were not transportation devices. They were stabilizers, channels that allowed energy to move between realms and prevent imbalance from collapsing the system. If one destabilized, the effects could ripple across worlds. If humans ever discovered Earth’s gateway, they wouldn’t understand it. I stepped forward, placing my palm against the stone. The system responded immediately. The portal didn’t choose randomly. It placed them where the disturbance was strongest.

Serena sighed. “Let’s hope it’s quick.”

Avalon rolled her shoulders. “And minor.” The energy surge still didn’t feel right, yet I stepped first, Serena following, and Avalon entering last. We walked into an open field within a forest. The hot humid air hit me instantly, too warm and heavy. We were in the dead of summer. The smell of earth infiltrated my nostrils. Trees extended miles from us, grounded with the rich soil that held them. The portal closed, not entirely, behind us. Serena scanned the area.

“No visible damage here,” she said, unemotionally.

“No immediate environmental collapse,” Avalon mentioned. “Great, a good ole waste of time,” she continued, throwing her hands up in the air. I stood still, listening. I connected my energy to the earth and located us near Charleston, South Carolina. We were in the national forest. I stayed quiet. Something was strange. The earth felt too quiet.

“Something is here,” I said. “We just haven’t seen it yet.”