CHAPTERNINE
1396 Words
The brothers had been told tales about Berar for as long as they could remember by their father, a former adventurer who had entered the portal with Alpha Athan decades before.
He described a world that was unlike anything they had ever seen, where stone buildings and flying ships filled the sky. But despite his descriptions, the brothers could never truly grasp what Berar was like.
After searching among his old possessions, Alpha Jeffery gave them a secret piece of parchment, an old map of the Red Forest that indicated where the gateway to Berar was.
Gideon clutched the map, his pulse pounding. Breathless, he unfolded the map in front of them and muttered, "This is it."
The eldest studied the map with a contemplative gaze. "The gateway is deadly if the legends are accurate."
"Yes, but how serious might it be? Many have gone through it." David inquired.
Peter’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Yes, and just think of what may happen. We could see this Berar, experience it for ourselves."
Though Gideon hesitated, he knew his brothers well. They would never back down from a quest, no matter the risks. He sighed and nodded. "We're going to look for someone not go on a vacation so keep the excitement to a minimum, your dirty pheromones irritate me."
David chuckled in the background while Peter shot his brother a stern look.
The brothers packed their bags with supplies; food, weapons and the key to a place their father had guaranteed would benefit them. Then they set off towards the forest at dawn the next day.
The path to the forest was mostly calm and uneventful but as they ventured deeper into the forest, the trees grew thicker, their branches twisted into unnatural shapes with deep red leaves that fell to the ground like a worn out canopy.
Magic weighed heavily in the air. Strange sounds echoed through the woods, whispers of forgotten spells, the rustling of unseen creatures.
As nightfall approached, the brothers made camp in a small clearing, their fire crackling in the stillness. Gideon, ever cautious, kept his senses sharp, while David impatiently sharpened his sword, eager for the adventure ahead.
"I wonder what Berar would be like," Peter thought as he gazed at the heavens. "Do you think they have dragons there? or magic.”
With a hushed voice, Gideon said, "I do not know.But I suspect that Berar is different from Arken. We have to be prepared for anything."
The next morning, after a long day’s travel through thick woods and rocky terrain, they finally arrived at the location marked on the map. Before them stood a massive stone archway, ancient and worn by time. Vines and moss covered its surface, and an eerie glow emanated from the center. The portal had been hidden in plain sight, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.
Peter stepped forward first, his hand reaching out toward the glowing arch. As his fingers brushed the stone, a wave of energy surged through him, and the world around them seemed to blur and distort. David and Gideon stood by, watching as the air rippled with magic, and the ground beneath their feet trembled.
The brothers exchanged glances, knowing that this was the moment. Without hesitation, they stepped through the portal together.
For a brief instant, they felt as though they were falling through endless space, weightless and disoriented. Then, with a sudden jolt, the world around them solidified, and they found themselves standing on solid ground.
They had crossed into Berar.
The landscape before them was unlike anything they had ever seen. Towering mountains stretched in the distance, their peaks dusted with snow, but the land beneath them was lush and green.
The air smelled different, a mixture of fresh rain and earth, and the sky above was wide and vast, with clouds moving at a pace they had never seen before.
"Is this Berar?" Kael asked, his voice filled with awe.
"It must be," Eldric said, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "But it’s unlike what father described."
The brothers explored cautiously, moving through the unfamiliar terrain, their senses on high alert until an estate caged in by large gates stood before them.
The brothers had found themselves on a lush cliff, a perfect place to howl during the Luna night. The estate held a spacious duplex building which stood in white and beige color. Gideon walked over to the gate which read property of Ther above head.
This must be the pack house their father and Alpha Athan had built. The eldest then dipped a clawed finger into the keyhole unlocking the gate and they all settled in.
The living room welcomed them with the fresh scent of Thergred and the triplets immediately felt at home. They walked round the house exploring each part meticulously before finding the hidden room their father had spoke about. It was just behind the study room and the key they had brought along was the only key that could unlock it.
When they opened the hidden room, they found stacks of Berarian money ready for their use.
They were confused. This was paper. In Arken, everyone used coins, almost everyone. Only Helios used cowries.
But paper? This could easily rip at any moment.
Nevertheless, the triplets changed their clothes, got some of the paper money and began to explore.
First, they decided to test this body of metal their father had called a car. Thankfully for them, instructions were written down for them on how to use this car. But after David crashed it four times, they dumped it and decided to just walk.
They soon came across their first real indication that they were not alone as they saw structures in the distance.
Great and tall buildings made of metal, their design unlike anything in Arken.
The brothers approached them, drawn by the strange yet familiar feeling they evoked. As they got closer, they noticed the sounds of voices, a language they couldn’t understand, yet somehow, it felt familiar.
“What are they?” Peter whispered, pointing to the figures approaching the buildings.
Human-like figures, though smaller in stature, with skin tones ranging from pale to dark. As they neared the town, the brothers quickly hid behind a cluster of trees, not wanting to draw attention to themselves.
“They look like... people,” Gideon muttered, his voice a mix of fascination and caution.
“They’re human,” David said, a grin forming on his face. “just like us."
"We're half humans," Peter corrected sharply.
"You think the tale of our race coming from Berar is true?" David asked in curiosity. His brothers threw him a you must be stupid look before Gideon spoke. "Go back to school."
After a few moments of observing the humans from a safe distance, the brothers decided to move on. They didn't know where to start the search for Alpha Athan but they knew they had to start somewhere.
There was much more to discover, and they needed to learn more about this strange world and its inhabitants.
As they journeyed deeper into Earth, the brothers found themselves amazed by the new sights, sounds, and experiences. They encountered bustling cities with structures that reached the sky, strange mechanical carriages that moved without horses, and vast fields where crops were tended by machines.
One day, they ventured into a large city, its streets filled with bustling crowds. People of all shapes and sizes walked by, absorbed in their own lives. The brothers marveled at the advanced technology, the way the streets were lit by glowing lights, and the strange contraptions that seemed to power the city. But amidst the wonder, they felt an underlying unease.
The people of Berar were different from those in Arken. They lived in a world that seemed disconnected from the magic that pulsed in their veins. This was a world of logic and reason, of machines and tools, there was no magic here, no enchanted creatures.
“This place,” Peter said, his voice low, "it feels empty. Where is the magic? "Where is the wonder?"
"Hold on," David grabbed Peter's shoulder and looked around, sniffing aggressively.
"Wait..." Peter's body straightened as his eyes also darted around.
"It can't be," Gideon was rigid, a deep frown setting across his place.
What was their mate doing in Berar?
- Writer
