Cytherea II

Cytherea is the realm known for its powerful witches. The snow filled forest and sky covered with thick clouds was the landmark of the place.

The place was not known as Cytherea first, but witches renamed the place after their goddess Cytherea.

"Cytherea?" Erbous repeated her words, unsure if there was any place named that on earth.

Valerie turned her head and nodded to him. However she stopped moving, when some noises landed in her ears. Her face turned dark, afraid if it was the Warlocks they would not let Erbous go back alive.

"We need to leave." She commanded.

Valerie grabbed his wrist and dragged him towards the direction the portal was, when they came here.

There was something about the gateway, it not only syncs between realms, it also moves. The portal may probably have moved after they ended here but Valerie still hoped it didn't.

Erbous didn't say anything, he just followed her knowing that it was the best and safest option for him.

The noises came closer and louder with passing moments. Valerie was too late to notice that sound followed later than action.

She ran to the original spot and as she expected, the portal was gone. They were in big trouble now. Magic was not allowed in Allure forest, especially light magic.

Long ago, the Allure forest was not always in a frozen state. It was around a century ago, the war of Witches and Warlocks over Cytherea.

For eons, Witches were only creatures that ruled Cytherea. But around a millennium ago, a group of warlocks started to capture the south and hunt down the witches to conquer Cytherea. After that, the war between the warlock and witches became infamous in all realms.

The allure forest was in the middle separating south and north. In its spring state, if you step in its boundary you trap forever. Just inhaling the air was enough.

However, one of the powerful Warlocks used all his energy to create a curse on the forest, freezing it to make it easier for Warlocks to conquer north. The war still continues but it was not aggressive as before after signing a treaty between both realms.

"Hey you! Stop there!" A man shouted from behind.

Valerie froze in her place realising they were done. No one can save them now. Out of all they were found out by Warlocks. Those creatures were like hyenas.

Before Valerie could even retreat when two men caught them from behind, and pinned both Erbous and Valerie on the ground.

"Let go!" Valerie said in a commanding tone as she struggled to get up.

Erbous looked at the two bulky men who were wearing musky looking clothes. Their blond hair stood to Erbous. They look European to him but their beards covered most of their face.

"Shall we take them to Cyng?" The other one asked.

The one who grabbed Valerie, nodded and tied their hands with normal rope before getting them and walking back in the same direction.

Valerie tried breakfree from the hand on her upper arm holding her tight but nothing happened.

Those men were strong built. She could see muscles even from those shirts. It looked like Warlocks have evolved with magic; they are also living a life without magic like humans.

While for Valerie, she was not physically built as she never needed to. All her work could be done with magic and learning physical workout was a waste of her time. She regrets it now for thinking like that.

Soon the forest was left behind and entered a cave with steps downward. The steps were made from stones, with a silvery dust on it like some kind of glitter.

On the other hand, Erbous had no idea what was going on anymore. Who are they? Where was he? Who was she? This must be a dream. It's only good for dreams, precisely nightmares.

He continued walking in the direction the guy took them like a puppet. He was too shocked to do anything.

Soon they reached the end on the stairs. In Front of them was a huge door with something written in their language.

The man who was holding Valerie muttered something in his own language, and the door slowly started to open to them.

In there it was a whole new world, with several huts and their own sunlight and forest. A whole different world under a world.

This one was more similar to earth than to Cytherea but the smell of magic was strong unlike earth where it remained balanced.

Even the temperature was like Earth. The Warlocks surrounded the place and talked to the Warlocks who bought Valerie and Erbous there.

Erbous couldn't understand a sentence. It was a completely foreign language but not for Valerie that was one pro of being a goddess.

All the languages in existence are known to her. It was Ogeti, from what she heard them she summarised it briefly that they were just asking where they got her and Erbous.

The guy explains them, with one of the older Warlocks glancing over at Valerie then suggesting the one incharge of her.

"Take them to Cyng and keep them specially. I can sense stronger magic from her than the witches."

The elder eyed Valerie suspiciously. Valerie didn't show she could understand their language and acted as if she didn't know anything.

The person in charge listened to them and dragged them towards the bigger house at the centre.

With a huge stone wall surrounding the two storey house, something out of medieval Earth. With two guard towers at the front and one at either sidewall.

The guard in one of the towers looked down and then he questioned,"Witch?"

"No. Just a human and a woman who can do magic but not a witch. She doesn't have a mark of the crystal tower."

Valerie's eyes widened hearing that. Crystal tower. Every thousand years a witch was born under the crystal tower. Having no males in their tribes, the only way they rejuvenate is unknown to the world. However the ceremony always took place there.