The Last Realm: The Blood of Clans

2: A Glimpse of the Past

“It's a pleasure, James. Since we don't got lots a time, you can just give me a quick spin a things.” The guard said while relaxing on the edge of the bed.

“Everything had been the same until yesterday, it was my fifteenth birthday.” I began to recount to this lunatic guardsman.

“Now ain't that something. I'm just past seventeen myself.”

I nearly scoffed at the statement, but reconsider given the already strange circumstances around me.

“I thought you wanted my story?” I brush aside his interjection.

“Too true, please keep it going.” The smugness returning as he relaxed yet again, following the outburst.

“As I was saying, last night was my fifteenth birthday with my small collection of family.” I pause and notice the ‘please elaborate’ look I'm being given. “The party consisted of my mother, younger brother, my grandparents and my uncle.”

“They ain't got no names?”

“Fine. The party-goers included my mother, Debbie Preston and her brother, Fred. My little brother, Michael Preston and our grandparents, on my father's side, Samuel and Jackie Shaw.” I gave a slight groan in frustration as I finished.

“I couldn't help but notice your lack of a pops.” This remark shot through me and I stood up abruptly.

“Are you trying to start a fight?” The venom in my words exploding past my lips, and to my surprise, the guards demeanor alters.

“Didn't mean to strike a touchy subject, just making an observation. I suspect he's off and already seen his finale, then?”

“Yeah…when I was little, before my brother was born.” I couldn't help but fix my eyes on the floor near my feet.

“Now was that so hard, pal?” He smiles with a little less of that mocking attitude about him.

“Was it necessary?” I shot back.

“Unfortunately, so onto the birthday then.” He cut me off, and so I launch into the events.

*****Start of Flashback*****

Today just so happens to be the 18th of March and school had released a couple hours ago, and I spent the time burning through books in the library. I had this budding interest in archaeology for unexplained reasons, at least, unexplained to me. I was just fascinated by the earth, history and everything I could quite literally sink my hands into. I had to use the last bit of my cash for the week to grab a cab back towards our apartments, which would no doubt annoy my mother.

So, after changing, I stare at myself in the mirror for a moment, and I can't help but think of how I never seem to get a break. I would say that I am a good deal short, standing just five foot eight, and as many kids would so nicely put it, a wimp. I don't really weigh a whole lot, barely would hit a hundred fifty pounds if you got me soaking wet. My hair is medium length rust-red and I have sepia-brown tinted eyes.

I can hear my grandparents shuffling into the house downstairs, making enough noise to rouse an elephant. A midst all their crashing and thrashing about downstairs, I get a pang of excitement as I did every time on my birthday. While my birthdays were never spectacular events in themselves, it always held the promise of school ending just a month afterwards. I considered that to be quite the gift, although I could have done with being born just a few weeks later in the year.

The other reason I was so excited, was due to the promise my mother had given me. I'd be allowed to get my first job this summer, and hopefully, it could be something remotely normal, and not picked out by my family. My momentary daydreams were snapped by the screeching yell of my grandmother, calling my brother and me down to the kitchen.

“Michael. James. Get down here already, and say hello!”

You would think they never visited or anything, but they were over here at least a couple times a week. I tussled with my hair for a moment longer before bolting down the stairs, ready for the den of questions that would no doubt assail me shortly.

“There's our birthday boy!” Grandpa Samuel called out as I rounded into the kitchen.

The cake was the usual, decorated in my favorite color of green with a big fifteen on the top of it. I hadn't expected my uncle to be here already, but everyone had already beat me downstairs, and the cake was lit and awaiting me. So, I receive my hugs and way-to-go's from the family as I was finally allowed to blow out the candles. Here was my big moment at last, but grandpa interrupted first.

“James, when you make your wish, make sure it's really special this year. You won't regret it.”

An odd comment for gramps to make, he was always reserved and soft spoken. I shrugged it off and smirked as I started to blow out the candles.

“What the heck, I want the greatest adventure ever.”

Sadly, the rest of the party was a total letdown. I got just a few presents, like normal, not that I'm complaining any. Okay, I might be complaining just a little bit, but it is my birthday after all. My mom always had it rough raising me and Mikey alone, but she was the best. After we all ate the cake, it was question time. I got asked everything from, “How has school been?” to more personal things like, “Are there any girls you like yet?” I could definitely live without the question and answer session, and I tried to keep things as vague as possible.

After a good half an hour of being bombarded with the who's and what's of my boring life, I managed to escape. Mind you, most of my presents were clothes, but grandpa had gotten me a wicked looking staff. It had dragons carved into the sides, etched in a rather eerie blood red color that seemed to jump out against the dark brown wood. At one end of the staff was a greenish looking marble, at least I thought it was a marble.

I took my new staff with me everywhere the rest of the night. I wasn't fully sure why I felt so compelled to carry it obsessively, not like Mike ever actually tried getting into my stuff. We tended to keep separate from each other, and do our own things most of the time. He was mostly a good kid though, and did a lot better than me in school.

On my way out, trying to slip up to my room while the adults talked and griped about life, my uncle called me aside.

“James, have you been thinking more about that career?”

My uncle was a cool guy and he and gramps knew that I had a growing desire to be an archaeologist like dad was. Though I noticed that my uncle kept eyeing the staff with a different glint in his eyes.

“Yeah, I've been pouring most of my time after school into this semester.” I replied back honestly.

“Well, I have a friend who might be able to give you some training this summer, if you're interested. So long as you don't tell your mother.” He added with a slight chuckle.

I might have too enthusiastically agreed and hugged him before he allowed me to sneak off up to my room. It might not have been a totally exhausting day, but I was still beat. As I lay down on my bed and quickly started drifting off to sleep, I briefly caught notice of the marble-like item in the staff start to faintly glow.

When I awoke, I could slightly remember feeling dazed and a bit queasy. My mouth tasted charred but I seemed to be in one piece still. It took what seemed like forever for my eyes to adjust, but when they did, I found myself staring into a pair of emerald green eyes. In front of me, was a girl who stood about my height but with beautiful blond hair. Her startling eyes reminded me of the marble in the staff that was suddenly missing from my possession. I didn't give it much thought really, the girl was radiating beauty unlike anything I had ever seen before, like some forbidden goddess, and it was all my mind could process.

It took me a few more moments to notice the rest of my surroundings. I seemed to be in a courtyard of sorts, and I heard the remains of a fading series of giggles and laughs before this hulking shadow was cast over my prone form.

“Can you stand?” Asked the voice from the shadow, as I tilted my head up to look at the bearer.

An imposing man that had to have been about six and half feet tall and with the build of a linebacker was frowning down at me. His long, shoulder length hair was mousy brown and did it’s best to hide cloudy blue eyes. I quickly noticed the long metal type of staff he held onto, and my mind was filled with a tinge of worry before I could hear the soft whispering of a girl from behind him.

“Uh…yeah, I think I can manage.” I said while slowly dusting myself off and slowly rising to my feet. It was then that I noticed a second maroon robed man next to him, but no sight of the emerald eyed girl. “Where am I?”

“In due time.” The other man with blond hair, similar to the girl, answered me. I realized he had been the one speaking earlier also.

“Nice to meet you?” I choked out nervously, shifting my weight back and forth.

“Likewise. I'm Daryan, and my friend is Barrick.” The blond man introduced the two of them, but garnered an agitated look from the larger one, Barrick. “We already sent word ahead, and it's not much, but a room is being prepared for you in the tower. This way please.”

I blinked in a worry of panic and fear, unsure of what to say, and growing conscious that my voice would fail me. I had no idea where I was and sighed, resigning myself to the mercy of the duo.

*****End of Flashback*****

“Quite a tale you got there.” Replied the guard, finally drawing me back out of my story, as I put the lid on the adventure.

“That's the last moment I recall being in my room, and then my weird arrival here.” I spat at him, with a glare of annoyance.

“Right, I think I know most of the rest.”

“Oh? I only saw two men when I woke up on the ground in the middle of some strange courtyard.”

“It's safe to say that you may have been out of it for quite a spell.” He was wearing a more serious expression after everything, finally.

“Can you give me a moment to try and piece this together?” I shot an inquisitive glance to the man, earning myself a shrug and brief respite.

“Do whatever you like, but remember that we’ve already burned up a lot of our time.” With that, the man stepped outside of the small room and waited.

I took the initial moment to gather up a second of silence. Before I glanced at the door, I looked over the small room; it only housed a table, chair and impromptu bed. It's of utmost importance that I collected myself before I even attempted to leave the room.

It was not even less than a simple twenty-four hours ago I was preparing to celebrate my fifteenth birthday with family, and not counting the company outside my room, I'm now in a strange tower locked away like a forbidden princess. Speaking of which, I can't help but wonder about the girl from before. This just leaves me alone with some prank diary that would fit better in some horror movie, or perhaps a dusty library vault.

To make matters worse, that thing is supposed to have been written by an older version of myself, from the past in a weird world and country that couldn't exist. Talk about someone's idea of a sick joke. I still can't believe that I thought last night's birthday party with my family was bad, this is definitely the wrong foot to start off the year with.

“Uh, hey guard guy.” I called back after recomposing my thoughts and getting a better sense of my bearings. At least I certainly thought so.

A head poked back into the room, along with his reply. “Oh, sorry bout that bud. You can call me Jace.”

“Jace?” I asked back with slight astonishment.

“Yeah, Jace Calder. I'm one of the guards here on the island. From what it sounds like in your tale, you’ll be meeting one of them boys again too. Barrick, if my guess were on the spot.”

“You mean the big guy, don't you?” I folded the journal page into my pocket as I headed towards the door.

“Yep, he's a right nasty beast. Good thing he's on our side though.” Jace paused to laugh a moment at his own inside joke, before getting a deadly serious expression. “We really best hurry you up. The big boss is waiting.”

“The big boss? You said that before earlier too.” I asked with a growing curiosity, as if spilling my weird experiences with this often frustrating, jester relaxed me.

“Technically, he's the Bishop around here. Runs everything about around here, right nice fellow too. Oh, and don't mention that I called him the big boss, it's not his favorite term and I'd owe you one.”

“Wait, he's a bishop? Like catholic priest and all that?” I can't help but wonder aloud.

“Not sure what your catholic priest thing is, but he isn't a bishop. He's the Bishop. Martel DiNoss.” The tone in his voice clarified that this is a closed discussion, and we were nearing a grand set of chamber doors as we spiraled down a few floors of the tower.

“Oh…my bad.” I nervously pushed off a half apology as the doors swung open and we're ushered in.