Reverse Chronicles

The Reversal Portal

The morning air in the city was as cool as a fresh spring breeze. The passersby each went their own way as a new day broke out. After those three consecutive trials, I finally have the chance to lay back and not worry about anything. I stayed in bed as long as I could, stretching, rolling over, and taking short quick naps.

After rescuing the miners last night, we received summons to the city hall. The magistrates want to reward us for the heroic deeds that we have done. Before that, we went to check out how Franz was doing. We exited the inn and made our way towards the infirmary.

“How can I help you?” the mage guard in the infirmary reception asked us as we entered.

“Oh, we’re here to see how Franz is doing?” I answered.

“The knight?” the mage guard replied. “Oh, he’s right in his room.”

“Thank you.” We headed toward his room.

I opened the door and witnessed the fully healed knight doing some push-ups. He did not wear a shirt. His entire body was sweating as he pushed himself from the floor.

“69, 70, 71, 72, 73,” he counted as he pushed.

“Are you sure you should be doing that?” Keith entered the room.

“74, 75.” He stood up and did a stretch that exposed his ripped abs. “I feel fully revitalized. And my wound has completely healed.” He showed the scar on his right inguinal area.

“I’m glad you’re alright,” Keith smiled. “Now go bathe! You stink.”

“Thank you for saving my life, Franz.” I stepped forward thanking him. I looked at him straight in the eyes. “Without you, I wouldn’t be standing here now. I am forever in your debt.”

“You are never indebted to me, not now, not ever.” Franz approached and held my hands. “You are a precious ally and I did what I did because of that.”

I could feel warm in my face and my ear. My heart raced as our eyes locked.

“Looks like someone’s in love!” Keith teased me. Franz looked away and blushed. He let go of my hand and wore back his shirt. “You should go bathe, Franz. You stink! Here is the key to the room in the inn three blocks from here. You go take a bath, while Josh and I collect our reward.”

“Reward? For what?” Franz wondered as he picked up the rest of his armor. “And what about the trials?”

“We saved six miners last night from being trapped in the Lyndium mines,” I explained. “The magistrates wanted to reward us and thus they summoned us to the city hall. As for the trials, we have finished all three. The second trial was to convince the magistrates to stop the mining company and the last one was to save the trapped miners.”

“You did all of that,” Franz smiled. His face was warm and bright. “I’m so proud of you!”

Those words flattered me so, yet those words also haunted me. On Earth, my parents pushed me to become the best. Best at anything. They threatened that if I would fail, they would disown me and abandon me. Even after achieving all that I have achieved, they never once said the words, ‘I’m so proud of you.’ When Alyssa beat me, I feared for everything. And it was that fear that transported me here in Reversia.

“Josh?” Keith pat my shoulder repeatedly. “Are you alright? What happened?”

“I’m fine.”

“You were in a trance. You looked like there was something bothering you. Are you okay?” Franz added.

“I just thought of something,” I smiled. “It’s not a big deal. Don’t worry about it.”

Franz was discharged. He headed to the inn to prepare himself. While we went to the city hall.

The city hall was very different during the day. Many people are walking around the circular hall, going in and out of the doors that led to the different rooms, and up and down the stairs that led to magistrates’ office.

“Oh, it’s you two!” the receptionist spotted us and waved. We approached him. “Everybody is waiting. Let’s go!” He led us to the large door in opposite the entrance. Once inside, a crowd greeted us. Among them were the six miners who loudly cheered as we walked towards the stage, where the four magistrates were waiting.

When we reached the stage, Magistrate Vincentius raised his hand and silence descended.

“Last night, I fought these two in a battle of wits and words. Their resolve and determination made them reach their goal. Their burning desire to reach the goal that they long for reached me. It is also because of that blazing resolve and determination that they were able to save six miners at the incident that happened last night in the Lyndium mines. For their heroic deeds, they shall be rewarded plenty.” The crowds cheered wildly. Magistrate Vincentius stepped back and magistrate Elaine stepped forward.

“For her valorous merit of saving the six miners,” magistrate Elaine spoke, “Josh will be rewarded with the sword that halves the land, Resolute.” A knight from her side handed her a sword inside its scabbard. The scabbard was decorated with motifs of the city’s insignia. The hilt was beautifully crafted and was crystal shaped. Magistrate Elaine gave me the sword. “That sword symbolizes the strength and determination of the people of Lyane, use it well!” After giving me the sword, she stepped back. Magistrate Catherine grabbed a metal staff carried by a soldier. She stepped forward and lifted the staff.

“This staff is made of aleum, a light, yet sturdy metal. The crystal on its tip is the elemental ore that harnesses the power of its owner. For your valorous merit of saving the six miners,” magistrate Catherine turned to Keith, “Keith, from this day until the day that this world succumbs, you will own, Lumittite, the staff of the magistrates.”

The crowd went wild.

“And that concludes…” Magistrate Catherine was speaking until magistrate Adrianna raised her hand.

“Please wait,” she said in a soft voice. “The miners were trapped last night because of my own actions. And even then, I did not claim responsibility and left someone else fix it. To the miners, I apologize for what I did and to Josh and Keith, I will bestow upon you a guardian familiar.” A magic circle appeared in front of us and out appeared a large egg. “This is the egg of the ice dragon and it is the last of its kind. I will form a pact between you and this egg.” She waved at her hand and touched my forehead. “Now touch the egg,” she grabbed my hand and put it on top of the egg. “From this day forth, the last ice dragon is now your familiar.” She gave us the egg and bowed. The egg was a little bit heavy. Upon closer inspection, it had snowflakes on the surface. “Please take care of her,” she whispered.

“And that concludes, this ceremony.” Magistrate Catherine finished.

We exited the city hall to find a large cart full of supplies that the city gave to us. It was full of fruits and vegetable, meat, and even clothes and armor.

“Hey, you,” a woman’s voice called out. I turned to see it was the woman from the mines. “You passed the three trials and now you’re an Invader and a rich kid.”

“Who are you?” I stepped back.

“My name is Kate, but you know me by the name Jennifer Lawrence.”

“So you are the…”

“Yes, I am. Tell me, what did you want from me? You were heading east, then suddenly you stopped here, even if you could just go east directly.”

“You are from Earth, right?”

“Well, duh. How would I know the name Jennifer Lawrence if I wasn’t?”

“So you really are from Earth! How did you get here?”

“A book,” she answered. “It had some ancient symbols and writings on it. I suddenly put my hand on top of one and voila, here I am.”

“That’s the same with us, too!”

“Ah, yes the girl. She’s doing better in the Sarcen empire. Last I heard was that she was an army captain protecting her country by invading smaller nations.”

“Alyssa…Is there a way to go back?”

“There is.”

“So, there is a way back.”

“But, it requires a great amount of power that I don’t know if it is possible. Also, I don’t know if it would really work.”

“Just tell me what it is!”

“The spell is called the Reversal Portal. I have only heard of it once, but you can read on it in the Great Library of Mysinda. You will pass by it, since it is the next country to the east.”

“The Great Library? What should I do when I get there?”

“You need to access the forbidden collection. To do that you need a library pass. Only sages and magic classes can enter this section of the library. You can earn the approval of the librarian by battling him, but you shouldn’t do that if you want to live long. The knowledge contained in the forbidden collection is too great that it drives people mad.”