Silverwood

Too close.

"Wake up, sleepyhead," Arun says.

"What?"

"You promised you'll come with me."

"To the pyramid?"

"Yes."

I get up.

"How are we supposed to go there?"

"We will catch a ship."

"A what?"

"That."

The same trade ship, the same captain. Am I dreaming?

"Come on, we will miss it."

We rush to the port and the captain recognized us.

"Oh, cute couple. Your adventure is so slow." The captain says.

"We want to go to the pyramid island," I say.

"You mean the one near east Apah?"

"Yes."

"Hop on."

We get on the ship with no fear. Vidya and Plum were welcomed too. We waved back to the sprites on leaving. 

It will be a three-day journey. I should enjoy it to the fullest. The captain thinks I am going to die soon. He is not fully wrong. I am leaving this world soon. I can not meet them again. Ever. 

So I learn some spells. Though I can not perform it, I showed interest in it for Arun. We went up in the fairy clouds too. Fairies are their prime customers. The different stops made the journey longer. I don't mind it. I am enjoying the journey now. 

The captain shares his stories with us. It was so fun. Another stop was at the werewolf rainforest but the captain reschedules it for us. Even plan to visit the east Apah abyssal in their return. So sweet of him. But it made my days shorter. Only two days with you guys. I hope I'll never forget you.

"We are heading faster," Arun says with excitement.

"Hm.."

Why am I not happy? Where is my excitement? 

"What happened?"

"Nothing?"

"Devi, I'll take you to my village. After I get the power back, we'll meet my mother. She will like you."

Please. Stop it. Don't show the excitement of the future together. We don't have a future together. 

"You okay?" Don't show your concern, please.

"Yes."

I left.

I have not seen an aqrabuamelu yet. Nor a manticore. After listening to the captain's story, I feel I have yet to explore more. A scorpion man and a bird lion. Weird. Interesting. I had the chance to see them, but all I thought was to get back. 

We arrived pre-estimated time. 

"Thank you so much. I will never forget you, captain."

"An elf in an adventure. I will definitely write a book as you suggested."

I can't control it. 

"Don't cry, my child." Saying, this captain hug me. He whispers in my ear.

"Bye.... thank you." We waved at him.

"This way to the pyramid."

The ground is solid lava. Greyish black. Bit of shaky. We walk through the bridge, passing over the hot lava. We reach the pyramids. 

For the entry, a password is needed.

The cat's face in the pyramid asked for the password. 

"What can be the password?" Arun is tense.

"Vidya say something."

"You are her best friend, you help her out. Why are you asking me."

Flashback:

( The captain hugs me and whispers. "When you get there, tell my friend you brought the love from both the world.")

"What is the password." The stone cat scream.

"I.... I have brought you love from both worlds." I scream.

"What are you saying?" 

"What did you say?" The stone cat question.

"Love from both the world."

"Are you mad? What are you saying? It will close the gate forever." Arun says.

Ground shakes. 

"Aiii aaii.."

"Plum!" I catch him.

The stone door opens. 

"Wow, it opens."

We walk in. It was too dark.

"Let me take out the light." 

No spell light work.

"We need fire," I say.

"Fire? It is meant for cooking. Or burning."

"I have seen a place where lava set fire."

"So?"

"I'll get it. I guess.. I might find a touch. Got it."

I touch the wall and got a touch handing there.

"Where are you going, girl?"

"Stay there. I'll be right here."

Running hard to get some fire. I set the touch on fire and ran to the pyramid again. 

"Let's go."

On the wall, there is a carving that is telling stories. 

"Look at the elf."

"He is doing magic."

"With a stick."

"A stick?" Both said together.

Moving forward and looking at other structures. 

"Who is there?" An eco frightens us.

I am trembling now. In movies, most of the time a monster appears who is the protector. The lead had to fight with it and only a winner stays alive. What the. Arun takes out his sword. Does he have that? I mean from the beginning of getting from the trade ship. What's wrong with me? How can I forget captain trained him and gifted a sword to him. I am losing my mind. 

"We are not looking for any trouble." Arun shout.

"We are actually." What did I do?

"You are looking for trouble?" The voice asks.

"Yes"

"No"

"Devi, what are you doing?"

Yes, what am I doing?

"Don't provoke him." 

I nod.

"Vidya! What is happening to me?"

"I don't know. According to the books, the pyramids are protected in such a spell that detects other spells. I think because you are in a transformation spell the protective shield is affecting you."

"What should I do now?"

"You shouldn't be here. Get out of my motherland." The voice says.

"May I ask you what does two moon means?"

Oops. I facepalmed.

"You don't know what two moons are?" The voice asked surprisingly.

"Actually..."

"Devi stop."

"Stop."

"Someone told me that it's not even two moons, but I feel I like you. May I know what that means?"

Arun stares at me with surprise. I feel like I am high.

"You two are from the two worlds. Hehe! Finally, my duty will be over." The voice that was too deep seems light now.

"Love from two worlds." 

"Aaaa! What is it."

"An ogre, don't you know that?" Arun asks.

"I must have known that but I can't remember."

"Oh, that happens to the other world person. Small side effect. Why are you dressed like an elf?"

"What's going on? She is an elf."

"Oh, you are that elf who will bring peace. Aren't you too young for that? No, I don't think so. You rest here, drear. And you come with me." 

The ogre takes him away. 

"Devi, Devi! Wake up. We are here for another work."

"I can't Vidya. I am too dizzy."

"You are too close. We are too close. We can get out of this hell."

Yes. I am too close. I have to do it.

I pulled myself up and began to search for the last part. 

"Hey, do you know?"

"What?"

"Elves never lost their power."

"Then?"

"This world is called Silverwood right."

"Yes."

"Years back there was the forest of Silverwood trees everywhere. Elves used the stem for their spells. See."

He is holding a long wand. It has an engraved area to place the crystals. He placed one and tried a spell. A spell to lift a substance. It worked.

"You try."

"No I cant."

"Don't be shy. Try."

"I can not."

"What's wrong with you?"

"Yes, many things are wrong with me. Actually, everything is wrong with me. I am the wrong person, okay."

"Why are you shouting?"

"I don't know." I really don't know. I should be happy, but I am shouting. You want to know what's wrong with me. Let me tell you."

"No no no no."

"I am not an elf. I said it. I am not an elf. I can not do magic. You get it."

"This is not what the future holds." The ogre says.

"What do you mean?"

"There was a prediction. Way before the war. When the conflict is the same, the two worlds will collide. Love from both the world will kick the problem aside. But here you two have conflict within yourself."

"Wait! If you are not an elf, then who are you? A witch? Spying on us?"

"I am not a witch." Screamed loud. Took out the white flower and wiped the spell out.

"Look I am a human." 

Gasped. I feel light now. I said it. 

"A human?"

I look at him quietly. After creating a fuss now I am here silent.

"A human. No doubt witches want you. You could have told me. I shared my secret with you."

"I thought...."

"You thought I'll do the same as my ancestor did." Sigh. "That what you think about me. Fine, what you want now? Tell me. You want to conquer our world?"

What the. Why does he think like that?

"I want to go back. That's it. And I will do it. Right now. Come, Vidya."

"What does he think of himself? Conquer the world. I can not manage my company I'll try to have over a world. Do I look crazy or what?" I mutter all the way in.

The part is in the transparent case. I placed the pyramid in the keyhole. Open the case. Assembled the summoner. Took the gem out. 

After a pause, I walked out. 

"Arun!"

I find no one.

"He left," I murmur.

I was about to open the portal, but a sound stopped me.

"Hmm mm"

"What's that?"

It's the ogre.

"Oh my god, what happened to you?"

"Your friend. Witches have taken him. Save him." The ogre took his last breath, saying this.

"Oh no... no."

"Arun!"

I run out. Lots of witches on their broom dragging Arun. Plum rush to save Arun. But got defeated. I have to save him. 

I picked a hot stone and threw it like a shotput. It hit one, and she fell down.

"Arun!"

Wake up, you i***t.

"Why are you screaming my name?" I turn back.

He is standing in front of me. And he is there, dragged by the witches too. Who is the real one?

"You.. you are here, then who is there?"

"Hahahaha!" One witch snatched the summoner from me.

"It is bad. Summoner in wrong hand will bring disaster." The ogre says.

"You are alive."

"Step back." Arun did magic that hit the witch and knocked her down.

I run to fetch the summoner. The fight began.

Because Arun was inside the pyramid area, he was safe. He can shoot the witch, but no witch can hurt him. But I was out just because of their illusion that fooled me. 

I am running avoiding the beam hits me. I get the summoner. Plum who went to save Arun needs to be saved. 

"Get back inside. I can not handle it." Arun scream.

"Bring the summoner." Ogre scream.

"I am on it." Vidya flies to me.

"Take this back to the pyramid."

"What about you?"

"I'll come with Plum."

"Okay."

She is flying like a fighter plane. With the near escape from the witches. I wake Plum and safely escort him to the safe zone. Vidya is in danger. 

"Vidya!"

"I'll cover for you," Arun says, and we get out to rescue Vidya.

On the battlefield. We get near to the cliff. There is a hot lava river flowing. Arun saved me from falling. He shoots a witch, and she is about to fall into the river. But she flew without her broom. Vidya got a hit. She is falling down. She tried her best to avoid falling into the river. The summoner is falling, and Vidya too. 

I run to save her. Arun covers for me. The summoner falls at the edge of the bridge. It can fall into the river. Vidya can not make it to the bridge. I am running to the bridge. She will fall just touching the edge of the bridge. I am over it. The summoner is tilting. Witches are shooting. I reach there. The summoner is about to fall. And Vidya too. 

Ogre gasps. The witch rush to me to snatch the summoner. Vidya is falling, just near the bridge, into the lava.

"Got you!"

"Splash!" The summoner melts down in the lava.

"Nooooooooooo" A witch screamed. All witches ran away. I can say flew away. 

"You saved me." Vidya is being emotional.

"Of course."

"You sacrificed your only chance to go home."

"Yes, I did. Look how stupid I am. But I don't regret it." 

"Devi, you actually lost your chance." 

Yes, I did. I know I did. I am doomed. I was too close.