The Realms

Chapter 4.

Horgian paced the room, his fingers had been combing through his long beard for the past few minutes. I had spent that time perched on a chair in the great hall, my eyes on him the entire time. I could only hear a few mutters from him, he hadn’t said anything in a long time. I leaned against the back of the chair, wishing that he would hurry up.

"Nia," Horigan spoke very sudden. "Your sister isn't around anymore. She's not fit to lead us."

"What do you mean?" I asked him, slightly surprised that he spoke so soon.

"I mean exactly that. She's not around. The darkness took her and we have no idea where she is. She was almost finished with her training too, she would've been the best sorcerer in the family. She was gifted." Horigan said.

"How?"

"She was a true blood Realm leader. Her father, your father, is a Realm leader. He had wed with a witch from Earth, your sister was the most powerful being in the Realms. The darkness wanted her power. Now they have it. Your sister had the blood of a leader, and a witch, with the power from both. She was a force.” He told me.

"It was my fault," He continued. "I'm the one that wasn't paying attention to her. We had gotten into a fight over how to lead the people, it was stupid, but I blocked off her thoughts. She blocked off mine. She was gone when I went to her room the next day. I regret it to this day."

"What do you mean blocked off her thoughts?"

"After years and years of being a realm guardian and having the magic that comes with it, you begin to get powers that are unheard of in the Realms. One day Nia, you'll be able to read minds. Kianala began to read them so early, but it was a mistake to block them out. I never should have done that."

I shouldn't have been surprised, what was next? Would I be able to fly?

"No, no flying unfortunately." Horigan said with a bit of a sigh. 

I can't be the guardian of the Realms. I don't want to. This was not my responsibility and I can't do it. I'm not a leader, I never have been. I'm simply a girl that's had an unlucky life and is trying to make the best of it. I wasn't born a leader and I don't have the qualities for it. My sister does, obviously. She should be the leader, not me. Why hasn't anyone tried to get Kianala back? 

"Horigan, has anyone tried to get Kianala back?" I asked him, as I stood and walked to where he was. 

"That's her, isn't it? That's my sister?" I asked as I looked up at the mural of a beautiful girl. My dark aura was the complete opposite of hers. She didn't look like our dad, she must take after her mother.

"That's Kianala, the Beautiful." Horigan said as he stared at the picture of her. She really was beautiful.

He spoke before I could say anything. "Most creatures of the Realms cannot pass between the Realms, few and far between can. The ones that can are too afraid to find her themselves, and I do not blame them. It is not their responsibility to make up for the mistakes that I made with her. It's a heavy burden, but I intend to carry it on my own." His voice had changed. It wasn’t his usual tone full of guidance and understanding, it was now harsh and cold.

"Horigan, let me go. I can find her. If what you say is true, I can find people that can pass between Realms. Maybe I can convince a few of them to come with me? Or I'll go alone." I rushed out, looking at the older man that he turned to look at me.

"No."

"Horigan, listen to m-"

"I said no!" He yelled, and hit the bottom of the spear he held in the ground. The candles flickered and burned out before lighting again. "You are to stay here and train to become the Guardian of the Realms. Nia Monthralo Horigan you are going to be the Guardian of the Realms and you will train to become just as powerful as your sister, and that is final."

With that, he left the room, the candles burnt out as soon as he stepped out of the room. I was left alone in the dark. I sighed and crossed my arms, rubbing the goosebumps that appeared in my arm when he had yelled. Horigan would be difficult to get by. But I had to do this. I had to find my sister. She was the only family that I had left.

---

I was sat on the floor, my legs crossed and underneath me. My hands rested on my knees and I listened to the voice that so loudly filled the room. I inhaled, I exhaled. Just as the voice said. Next I opened my eyes and looked into the dark room, a small visible light floated in front of me. The spirit, as Horigan said a while ago, was beginning to summon any magic that was held within me.

Days had gone by quickly after our argument in the great hall. We went to sleep after our discussion and when awake the next morning, neither of us said anything about it. We eat breakfast together, and Horigan explained to me how the next few weeks would go. I would start my training to take on the Guardian role. Horigan would help in any way he could, but for this training I had to do it alone. I've spent my entire day today, and yesterday, and so on, doing this. Sitting in the dark room with nothing to do other than stare at the bright light.

Our conversations have been stressed lately, and in the past day something has changed in the Realm House. It's been a lot colder, and a lot darker. The candles wouldn't burn as bright when Horigan walked into the room, and were only a dim light when I was there. Horigan couldn't answer any of my questions on why this was happening, though I questioned on whether or not he really knew what was going on. It's hard to believe he wouldn't. I would expect him to know everything that was going on. But this was something that he questioned, though he never spoke about it to me. He kept quiet, like nothing had changed.

It was a few days after the cold darkness settled over the Realm House and nothing has changed. I've kept up with the training that Horigan has made me do every day. I hadn’t felt anything inside of me change, and to be honest, I had thought that nothing would really change within me. I was curious to know if something was though, wouldn't anybody? I don't know what type of powers I'll possess, nor do I know how I am to use them, or if I would get any at all. Though, the thoughts were always on my mind.

Ever since I was a child I wanted to have powers, as any other kid did. I've always wanted to fly, to control things with my mind, anything and everything that possessed all the characters in movies and books I've seen.

It had been nearly two weeks since I got here, to the Realms. I've thought a lot about my life and where it was going. I know now that this is who I am. I've had countless dreams with my father in it, my great grandparents, every single Realm family member is there. They all talk to me in my dreams and tell me about how my life is going to be. I met Horigan's father, who vows his life on his son's words. I know that I could trust them. They come every night. I’ve met Christopher, The God. The creator of Realms, the creator of myself. I trust them.

And yet, I couldn’t help but wonder what my life would've been like if I didn't follow that little girl. I couldn't help but wonder if I'd be living on the streets by now, or out of a job, or looking for a better paying job somewhere else. Would I still have no friends, no family? Either way, I did question how my life would be different.

I don't know the answer to that question, I don't think I'll ever have that answer. I do know that I'm not going back. This is my life now, I got a fresh set of cards and I'll be playing them until I win.

Chapter 5.

My eyes were closed as I had felt the familiar warmth spread through my body. I felt as if I was surrounded by a heating blanket, or as if I was wrapped in a towel fresh out of the drier. My eyes fluttered as I saw a light fill the darkness in my mind. The familiar bright light had grown stronger and stronger.

It was a creepy feeling in the beginning, but as time passed and I had grown used to it, I began to love the feeling. I felt as if I was floating. I didn't feel the weight of the world on my shoulders anymore and I certainly didn't feel the depression that clouded over my mind for the past few months.

Instead, I felt new. I felt whole. I felt unstoppable.

Soon after that though, the bright light filled up all the darkness and the light was all that I could see. Then I stood in a field. The grass reached to my knees and I smiled as the wind blew my hair several directions. I took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of the meadow, the flowers in the distance, and I heard the rushing sound of the river that was beyond the meadow. This place, this field that always seemed to bring me back, this was my home. This was where I belonged.

"Back so soon?" I turned around at the words, and smiled as I met the brown eyes of my father. His gray hair had reached the tips of his side burns, though there was still that youthful light in his eyes. He walked over to me, an arm hugged my shoulder and a kiss was pressed to my temple.

"Horigan has me training daily." I answered his question, though there didn't need to be an answer. My father knew why I was here, and why I returned so often.

"And how is your training going? I trust you're doing well?" He asked me.

I smiled slightly, and thought of what I had accomplished in the last few months here. "I've been doing good, at least I hope so. I think Horigan is becoming more stressed out as each day passes, the darkness is getting worse."

"I know," He said. "I've spoken to Horigan as well. This has never happened before, it's something that's going to have to come to an end. The Realms depend on it."

He moved to sit down in the meadow, I followed my father's lead. I know that he was right, something did have to be done. I knew what I wanted to do, but I also knew that my grandfather would never let me do something like this. It was hard enough to know that I've lost my sister, without ever really knowing her. The fact that I cannot try to find her made me furious. She was my sister, I had to at least try. I was Nia The Great, why couldn't I at least try.

"How much older is she?" I asked my father, meeting his eyes. The wrinkled skin crinkled as he smiled.

"She's much older, much. She's nearing two hundred. I haven't seen her in a long, long time. When I passed she had already been taken. That's why Horigan needs you Nia, he really does need you." He told me.

I sighed and shook my head. "I don't get it, though. Why can't I just try and find her? If Horigan is right, then I'm going to be a powerful guardian. Can't I help?" It was pointless to ask him, I knew that and so did he. I can't talk to Horigan about this, he refuses to even listen to me.

"Nia, you really can't. I know that you want to, I want you to too, but there's no possible way. If something were to happen to you, there would be no guardian. You're the Realms only chance Nia, can't you see that?" He asked. There was no hostility in his voice, only the kind father tone that I had once hated.

"I know," I closed my eyes for a second. "It's just not fair."

"Nia, I know. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." My father said, his arm wrapped around my shoulders once again and it allowed me to lean on him.

Nia…

Horigan's call filled my head and I sighed, knowing that it was time to go. I didn't want to go and talk to my grandfather. I wanted to talk to my father, but I knew I had to. I quietly said my goodbyes to my father, and told him that I'll visit him soon. I had more training to do in the next few days and I'm sure that I'll see him again.

My eyes opened and I took in the dimly lit room. Horigan stood in front of me, the dark red rope adorned his body. His white beard was now close to his stomach and his hair had grown longer in the past few months, his horns were still the same. His red eyes met mine as I stood up; it was then that I felt the coolness that had found its way into the room.

Horigan wrapped his hand around my arm and gently pulled me from the room. Goosebumps rose on my arms as we left the room, the candles burnt out as I left, and the temperature dropped suddenly. I let out my breath, to test it to see if I could see my breath, and the fact that I could see the white puff of air scared me.

He continued to pull me, all the way to my bedroom chambers. I knitted my eyebrows together in confusion as he waved his hand in front of the door and it opened on command. I went to speak but no words found their way out of my mouth as I looked into my room.

It was a mess; that was to say the least. My blankets were thrown on the floor, pillows to match. The books of spells and powers that I had been studying have been thrown on the floor and my closet has been searched. I walked fully into the room, stepped away from my grandfather, and looked around the room. I had no personal belongings in the room, but it was still my room. This was the room that I've spent my days and nights in for the past few months. This was my home now and someone had searched it.

Chills formed on my arm, which caused my body to shake as I thought about who, or what, had been in my room.

"Was it...?" I began to ask, but trailed off when I looked at Horigan. His eyes were wide and the usual red grew darker. I could tell that he was angry over what had happened.

"It was," He finally answered my question a minute later. "The darkness, they got in. They were looking for you, tell me Nia, did you have anything in here they would want." Horigan angrily said, and turned to look at me.

My mouth dropped open and I shook my head. "No. No I didn't. I don't have anything that's mine here, it's all stuff you gave me." I told him, offended by the way he accused me of doing something behind his back.

"Then what is it! Why would they come here?" Horigan yelled, though I know his anger wasn't directed at me anymore.

"I don't know, maybe they were looking for me?" It wasn't supposed to be a question, but it sounded as if it was when I spoke.

Horigan sighed, his head shook. "Clean your room up, we'll eat in an hour's time. We have important matters to discuss."

Chapter 6.

I struggled with the few books in my hands, and wished my levitating powers had come in yet. Horigan told me months ago that they would arrive in my first few months, yet they've yet to come. I knew that I should give it time, I've only just begun my training really. He says that I have years to train. I don't know what I could possibly learn in years to come, it seems like I knew all of it already, I just couldn't do it.

It was frustrating, really. I had begun to grow annoyed when I'd fail to make the books levitate, or any other object. I was annoyed with the fact that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get it. Horigan told me it takes time, but how much time?

It's been nearly seven months since I first discovered that I was here and my training has really only just begun. I was unsettled with the amount that I had left... how could it possibly be years?

The days that followed after my room had been searched and trashed, it was obvious that Horigan was unnerved and had began to grow irritable. I knew he was worried; I was the last potential Guardian and I know that they're after me. Horigan had told me that that night of the break in. He told me that the Realms couldn't afford to lose me as their guardian and they couldn't afford to suffer under the darkness' control any longer.

As much as I hated it here during my first few weeks, I've come to almost love the Realms. I've never been in them, any of the four of them. I would like to, and Horigan says that I'll be able to eventually, but I have to finish my training. The People wanna meet the new guardian, especially since the new guardian is a woman. Horigan has told me that the Realms have a strong sense of equality between all genders, but never once has there been a female leader, since my sister, and now me.

My sister.

I have thought about her a lot during the days that followed the break in. I questioned on if I would ever meet her, if I would ever be able to rescue her from the darkness, or if I would live my entire life - one that Horigan said could last centuries - without knowing my half sister. I've expressed those thoughts and fears to my father during my dreams, and he continuously tells me that I have to go and get her. That I have to rescue her. But I can't. Horigan won't let me, and I can't travel between the Realms. Nor do I even know where to start.

I want to… I do. But I can't.

I've tried to talk to Horigan about it, but he won't give in. He doesn't wanna risk me being killed, he doesn't wanna risk anything at all. I'm afraid that the darkness has scared him too much. I'm afraid that the war that had occurred before my father died, and when I was just a child, had done too much damage for the older man to withstand. He's afraid, and he's alone. Or, he was. He's not alone anymore, and I thought that's part of the reason why he's so afraid to lose me. Because if he does, he's truly alone.

We were eating dinner one night, nearly a week or two after the break in when things started to change. The atmosphere in the room changed, and neither of us knew why. In fact, we didn't sense anyone coming until it was too late. Until Marceia had appeared in the room. She fell onto the table, coughing and spitting out a dark liquid onto the table. Blood.

"Marceia…" Horigan said, "What has happened?"

"The darkness… Horigan, it's come again. The Queen broke into the House of Magic and killed everyone in there. Horigan, she wants blood. She wants the blood of the Horigan House. She… She's going to kill Kianala unless you release your powers to her." Marceia said, she wiped the blood that trailed from her lips.

Horigan's face grew pale and he stood and walked over to the peri to help her sit down. He waved his hand over the plate, and food appeared on the plate in front of her. But Marceia only shook her head, peri dust fell on the table around her. "Horigan, there's more…"

"What could possibly be worse than the Queen attacking the House of Magic?" Horigan was baffled, and by the way his face had turned from white to red, I could tell that his anger was only growing.

"She wants the girl…" Marceia turned to look at me. Horigan let out a giant sigh, the table shook as he slammed his hands down on the table.

"No!" He yelled, "She will not take another Guardian from me, from the Realms! Her attack on the House was an attack on me, on the Realms. For this, she'll have war." Horigan cried.

I shook my head. "That's what she wants, don't you see? She's using this against you. She knows how connected the House of Magic is to you, to the Realms. She won't stop at just that, she wants more. There's got to be a way to stop her." The last part was directed towards me, my voice dropped lower and though it was a whisper, I knew they both heard me.

Marceia was the first to speak. "I'm afraid that Nia is right, Horigan. We both know the Queen won't stop. And we both know the only person that could possibly stop her."

"No."

"Horig-"

"I said no, Marceia! I cannot send my people to rescue her! For all we know, she's dead."

"But it's impo-"

"I don't care!"

"I'll go." My voice interrupted the twos argument.

I know that Horigan doesn't like the idea, but someone has to. Someone has to go and rescue Kianala from the Queen before anything happens. Before the Queen takes control of all the Realms, and she'll stop at nothing to conquer; she won't even stop there. She'll move to Earth, she'll want to control there too. And then no one would be able to stop her.

Horigan glared at me, before he stormed out of the room. The lights faded, leaving the two of us alone in the dimming light- the candles only keeping a flame because of me. It was a sign of my growing power, and although the fire isn't burning bright just yet, within time it will.

Marceia looked at me, her eyes searching mine before she slowly nodded. "Get ready, we leave at dawn."

--------

I had been sitting on my bed when I heard Horigan in the room that was across from mine. He argued with himself, with his ancestors, and with the past guardians. I hoped he knew how much this rescue mission means to me. I hope he knows that I'm going once and for all.

It was different before. Before the Queen had attacked the House of Magic. I remember when I studied that place months ago. learning of its powers in the center of the third realm. It's where witches were born, wizards die, and all of the Realms magic lies within that House. With the Queen attacking it, thousands were slaughtered and many injured. The House of Magic will never be the same, as the Queen had set a curse on it. My heart ached at the thought of my people suffering and dying in the hands of a cruel witch, while I sat here, being fed and trained for what? For the Queen to take over the Realms, and Earth, and other dimensions that I haven't yet learned about?

My sister was there, she was being held captive. I've never met Kianala, but she was blood. She was my father's daughter, and for him, I'll find her.

I shook my head to shake my thoughts away and stood from my massive bed. I walked to the closest and pulled out a knapsack that was stored in there. I grabbed a few things, a few sets of clothes. The bag was small, and I wanted to keep it lightweight in order for easy carriage. I didn't know how long I would be out there, in the Realms, and who knows that lies before me.

I sensed him before I heard him- something that I've begun to learn during my studying. The door to my chambers opened and Horigan walked in. One look at his face, and I saw more than just the rough lines that coursed his face, more than just the horns that grew and twisted into a knot above his head, more than the eyes that had scared me so much in the beginning. I saw an old man who had lived centuries, and a man who had just lost everything he held dear to his heart.

He sighed and shook his head. I watched as he approached the bed and with a wave of his hand, things began to appear on it. I walked over, and looked through the things that had been placed on my bed. A rope, a canteen, a map, and that was it. I looked up at Horigan, my eyes on him as he nodded.

"I don't want you to go, I didn't want you to ever have to leave here. But Marceia is right, you're the only one that can go. The Queen won't suspect you, she'll expect me, or the Fighters. I'm sorry to have to put you through this Nia. I hope you know that this isn't what I wanted for you."

"I know," I said, "I know Horigan. But remember, I never wanted this either. But you changed me, and now I'd do anything for the people of the Realms." I told my grandfather.

He sighed, his forehead creasing from worry lines. "Your father would be proud of you. Now, you must go Nia, it's time."

I nodded, and packed the few possessions in my bag. I shut the clasp, moved the straps and placed them on my arms. I looked at Horigan again, and nodded my head once more. "I'm ready."

Within minutes, Marceia had taken my hand in hers, telling me that it wouldn't hurt at all. I was a Guardian by blood and I would soon be able to move throughout the realms as I please - Horigan says it's hopeful that it'll be within the first few days of being in the Realms, as long as I continue my training.

We stood at the first door to the Realms, the tan one. I couldn't see anything through the thick fog, but my stomach was in knots as I approached it. Marceia was sprinkling the peri dust on me, and it reminded me of that day she kidnapped me and brought me here. How ironic that she was doing this to again, though this time, we were on our way to save the Realms.

Marceia tugged my hand, and said to me that it was time. I looked back at Horigan, and smiled softly as the older man looked at us with a pain expression. "Goodbye Horigan, it's only for a little while, I'll be back soon. I promise." I told him, though we both knew it was an empty promise. We don't know if I'll make it back. I'm sure we both know the odds of me surviving this were slim to none.

"Nia, find Willow. She knows the darkness, and she can pass through Realms. Find Willow, tell her I sent you, and you'll have a great help with you."

"Wh-"

I was tugged into the fog, my vision cut off and I could no longer hear Horigan anymore. Fog filled my vision, the tan color being bright against my eyes and creating an orangey tinge around Marceia and I. It was hard to see, and Marceia kept her told on my arm.

Soon, the ground turned soft and I could feel my feet pressing into something soft. The smell hit me next, and it reminded me of the woods. I could smell trees, grass, and the scent of a fire. My eyes closed as I smiled, remembering the way that Earth smelled, and this new unfamiliar smell, being so similar that I felt as if I was returning to the dimension I was born in.

I opened my eyes as I was tugged further, the tan fog beginning to lighten, and soon, green and brown were all I could see. And then suddenly it was gone, and the grip on my arm was released.There, I stood alone, in the great big world, where the purple sky touched the tips of the trees, reaching its fingertips to the green of the grass. Where two moons filled the sky, and planets danced it the background.

I was here, I was in the Realm. And the game has changed, and even though I had no hope of winning, I couldn't help but smile.