Chronicles of a thousand realms: Saga 1

Part 2: Unwelcomed guests

I run out of the library as I dash down the stares towards the grand entrance of our castle. As I pushed through the oak wood doors, I feel a gust of wind blow against my face tickling my skin and inviting me into the warm embrace of the summer afternoon. I leap from the doors down to the grass feeling the soft plush grass underneath my bear feet. I can feel my powers surging through me and my hands engulf into green flames. I can’t help but feel so alive being able to run through the woods. With each step getting closer and deeper into the southern region of Arden, I can feel small fairies flying with me accompanying me on my journey.

“Good Afternoon ladies!” I say cheerfully. They nod in reply. We pass by the orcs and goblins village and I could see they’re building more huts for their children. They’ve had a very big season of newborns and I couldn’t help but smile and feel joy but also pain for not being able to have one of my own. I push the thought away and continue my run to the southern part of Arden. The fairies fly off towards their village and as they depart, one of the younger fairies waves at me. I smile and wave back in return.

“Good Afternoon your highness!” Aarush and Finlo say as I arrive to the high and dark elves village. Aarush and Finlo are two of the finest Elvian guards in Asteria. Not to mention my two closest friends.

“Common guys we talked about this, you don’t have to be formal with me. Now what’s the scope today?”

Aarush blushes as I smile staring up at him. Unlike most elves, Hagan stands only half the height of the Asterian elves, only due to him being half goblin and half high elf. For high elves, their skin complexity is a pale creamy white with gold eyes and golden hair, where as the dark elves skin is a soft dark grey and their eyes are also golden yellow. Aarush stands tall in his royal dark blue guard robes with his golden locks falling gently past his smooth pale face. Finlo, being a dark elf wearing his royal red guard robes, flaunts his muscles and pushes back his short jet black hair. I couldn’t help but blush as I stared at the both of them.

“Well, we did stop some fairies trying to steal our voidberrys again and when interrogated, one squealed and confessed that they were getting paid 5 shillings to bring back voidberrys to the nymphs near the water in the western region of Arden.” Aarush looks down at me and smiles as he gives me the scope. I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Did anything knew happen with papa Hagan?” Finlo teased, knowing that I’ve been learning the same thing for almost 100 years now.

“Well Fin..I found out something new today..”

Finlo’s bright golden eyes widen with amusement and curiosity.

“Oh yeah..” he leans in closer to me as I stand tall inches from his chest, “what would that be Verena?”

“Something about me being fated to my mate to access my true potential in my powers and controlling it..you know..more of those secret things I’m finding out about my people I guess..”

Aarush and Finlo grow silent and stare at each other. They look down at me before looking around then back at each other.

“Is there something I should know?” I asked curious and annoyed. Everyone’s been having weird secrets that I guess I’m now learning about. Aarush pulls my arm and takes me into the small cottage close to the gate. Two more guards stand in place as Finlo closes the door behind him.

“Verena, you should have a seat..” Aarush says as he sits down near the window. Finlo undos his cloak and places it on the chair before sitting down. I couldn’t help but notice his dark grey skin with scars on his chest. It looks fresh.

“What’s going on?” I look at the both of them confused and feeling flushed by looking at Finlo’s mostly uncovered chest and shoulders.

“About two weeks ago…we’ve been noticing more visitors by the border of Asteria. We’ve tried to locate them but they vanished.” Aarush looks away as he lets out the truth feeling ashamed, I couldn’t help but feel concerned for my people. But what exactly were they encountering?

“We know that they weren’t from any region in Arden. They’re nothing like what we’ve encountered before.” Finlo states as he scans my face to see if I’m confused or tracking. I guess my eyes flickered a different color because both of them looked at me with curiosity.

“What do you mean?” I look at them earnestly.

Before they could respond a loud screeching sound erupts in the air and outside the cottage more elvian guards rush towards the gate of Asteria. Finlo puts his robe back on and dashes out the house and Aarush follows behind. I can’t help but follow them staying near the cottage to see what’s going on. In front of me lays a griffon attacking an elderly elvian ripping the elderly woman apart. More griffons emerge from the shadows of the trees attacking each other fighting over the remains. The guards stand in horror as they watch and fight back to keep them from entering the entrance of Asteria. Out from behind them is a griffon with a lions head with dark red fur slowly creeps in front with a man riding it. The rider appeared to be a tall pale grey man with long grey hair and icy blue eyes. He wore a grayish blue and gold royal robe and plates symbolizing his war uniform. His eyes scanned over the front gate and the elvian guard until they landed on me. I couldn’t help but feel stuck in my stance unable to move. He pointed his golden spear in his hand towards my direction and begins to speak with a deep silky voice that made me tremble in fear and submission.

“You’re Verena Queen of Arden. You are sought by many but only one will prevail to have you. If you come with me willingly no one else will get hurt my Queen.”

What did he mean by many and one prevail? Who is he and what does he want with me? Aarush sees that I’m frozen still by his words and he steps in front of me to shield me from him.

“Who are you and what do you want with our queen?” Aarush demanded as he took his stance with his spear and magic power engulfing him in rage.

“I am Eiran, god and king of the underworld. I’ve come to seek out Verena. Either she comes with me to protect her now or a worse fate will come for her. Your precious queen is a deadly weapon to many and he will stop at nothing to take what he wants from her.” Eirans words are cold as ice but still bring an authority that felt warm in my lower abdomen. As the wind kissed my face and hair, it revealed a mark on my neck trailing down to my breast. Eirans eyes trailed down my body as if he was reading every detail. Finlo blocked my other side to shield me from Eiran. Both Aarush and Finlo furious with Eirans presence.