CHAPTER 9 "Uncharted Realms"

"Dare to dream, for in dreams, we find the infinite within ourselves." 

In the crucible of uncertainty, with fear in the heart and strength in the body, we opened the gates and entered one by one. 'See you on the other side,' I smiled at Areli. Stepping through the gate, I jumped off, and as we ascended, we found ourselves in a cosmic expanse filled with stars and glowing planets. Eventually, we landed on the ground engulfed in red-hot flames. Looking up, I realized it was a place even more infernal than I had ever imagined hell to be. I realized we got separated. I started shouting their names until I saw a big red giant with one horn on his head on the left side carrying a flame sword. With a flick of my spiritual yellow flame sword, I brought the towering red giant under control. Spells mingled with flaming thrusts until, finally, I sliced precisely through the enormous, splintering flames. A warm glow of victory covered me as the gigantic enemy crumbled and was vanquished, leaving behind nothing but the echoes of our enchanted duel and Karalos' voice…

"I thought you were joking about hell!" I snapped at Karalos.

"I didn't mean to come here. The Gods know our travels. This is where you got your sword. Don't meddle or risk going missing for a millennium. Avoid the echoes," warned Karalos.

The search for Areli led us to screams and rumbling. We followed the sound. Her eyes, once yellow-green, turned dark red in a killing spree. Karalos and I intervened, battling giants to calm her.

Holding Areli as she fainted, I asked, "You, okay? It looked scary and beautiful." She smiled, falling asleep in my arms. 

With Areli on my back, I followed Karalos, our steps echoing in the aftermath of the chaotic scene. After many hours of searching the exit, we finally arrived at a gateway that led to a wormhole. We hoped for the best and jumped into it. We landed on a planet that was covered with long grasses, beautiful flowers and trees. I suddenly started to feel a familiar smell, a familiar environment… I roamed around for a bit and realized it was none other than my planet, Vandearo… Top of Form

I stood there, shocked and unable to react. I gently laid Areli on the fresh green and yellow grass. As I lay down beside her, I stared at the sky. The blue and red stars merged, and blackbirds zipped by, chirping softly.

Suddenly, tears rolled down my cheeks as memories of my childhood flooded back. These grassy fields held stories of my past. The tears weren't just sadness; they were a mix of emotions, a connection to days gone by.

The grass beneath us seemed to carry the echoes of my laughter and dreams from when I was a child. At that moment, lying under the open sky, time stood still. Areli, peacefully resting, became a link between my past and present.

The tears on my face were like a quiet tribute to the simple joys of my younger self. As I let those tears fall, I found comfort in the connection between who I used to be and the person I've become in this ever-changing world. 

"Be grateful you didn't turn out as a bad guy as us who would destroy their world. Go meet your people, I am taking Areli somewhere nearby. We will meet you at the village." stated Karalos.

I waved at them while walking towards the main town. As I got closer, something strange happened – the once-green grass started turning pale, and the stars above seemed to collide, merging into a glowing purple sun. It was like nothing I had ever seen. Then, the scent of flames filled the air, making it hard to see clearly. I rubbed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I couldn't believe what I saw.

The entire village, once vibrant and alive, was now reduced to a mountain of black ashes and overburnt bodies. The air was heavy with the weight of the tragedy. I clenched my fists, overwhelmed with anger. The Council was responsible for this devastation, and I felt a burning desire for revenge.

In the midst of my outrage, I felt a hand on my back. Expecting it to be Areli, I turned around to find a white short-haired woman with blue eyes and a tall blonde man with long hair and a beard. Confused, I asked, "Sorry, do I know you?"

"My name is Fuego Kyran, the previous King of Vandearo, I also go by the name King of Conquerors. Does it bell a ring?" the blonde man asked. "And this the first Queen of this world, Queen Cora, Persephone Demetria--."

"Wait, let me just catch all the things together." I paused. I started to feel happy and sad at the time with tears falling. I ran at them and hugged them. "Where were you guys all this time, I missed you," I said while sobbing.

"Son, we wanted to meet you but we waited for the right moment, the right moment to tell you about your destiny… The Guardian foreshadowed your future and you must by any means need to accomplish it. But I must warn you, there is a snake on your journey, you must be aware of it… until then we will meet again… find us and dream big…" Stated Father while they drifted into the wind and black ashes, smiling at me. 

I rubbed my eyes and started to head towards the castle, where I shall take the heads of the Council. I couldn't control what was inside of me, I was feeling unusual, I was feeling different… My thoughts and my perspective started to change; it took a turn on the evil corner. This wasn't me. After a while, I found Karalos and Areli in front of a portal waiting, impatiently.

"What took you so long?" asked Areli.

"I … met with my parents. They are alive, they told me to find them." I answered.

"What else did they say?" Karalos asked.

"My father was talking about someone called 'The Guardian'. He knows the future…? I paused.

"The Guardian … no coincidence." Said Karalos in a tense way. "The Once God cursed with knowledge by his people. He is more like the improviser of the universe."

"I don't care who he is. I will get through him, even if I have to kill him." I exclaimed. I clenched my fists and rolled my eyes upwards, "Open the gateway, Karalos."

Karalos used his magic to open the gateway. As soon as they entered, I closed the gates.

"See you on the other side." I wept.

"NOOO!!" Areli shouted, punching the gate.

"If I don't return, just to let you know… I love you, Areli… I promise you I will return even if it takes decades." I quavered. 

"No please not now. We can talk about this, please…" whimpered Areli.

"He is going to do what we did to our past… Let him make his future." Karalos 

acknowledged. 

I saddled up a horse from the yard and rode towards the castle nestled in the mountains. The place where cowards hid, afraid to face the real world. As I galloped, the only sounds were the hooves of the horse and the fiery determination burning within me. This time, I was prepared. I had grown strong enough to confront an entire army. Upon reaching the castle, an eerie silence greeted me. No sign of life, just the haunting rustle of dead leaves swirling in the wind. The desolation around me fueled the flames of determination inside. I dismounted, ready for whatever awaited within the cold, stone walls. The absence of any living presence only heightened the tension in the air. 

It was a bit weird. No one guarding the castle. With caution, I slowly entered the castle. I searched every room. It was empty. "What you are looking for isn't here." Someone suddenly whispered. 

"Who is there?" I shouted 

" I am just a man like you. No father, no mother. No one to look after. Only the people who believed in you that you will be their saviour." He laughed. "I wanted to help them, I wanted to create a world without pain. I did find a way. I killed the Council with that power. I became immortal. But then the people didn't accept me. So, I decided to kill half of the people and keep the other half in prison. A wise man once said, 'As long as there are those who remember what was, there will always be those who cannot accept what can be.' They will resist…And now with your arrival, I must add you to my collection of dead bodies. I am sure you will fit in." he challenged.

I swung my yellow flame sword, trying to take on the cosmic powers of the immortal man. He had this infinite energy shield that just blocked my fiery attacks. Even when I sent fiery serpents or storms his way, he brushed them off like they were nothing. Then, he unleashed this blinding light, and my flames couldn't hold up. Everything went quiet as my yellow flames faded away. I was defeated by the immortal man's crazy strong cosmic powers. Then, darkness enveloped me, and consciousness slipped away. I became unconscious, the battle's echoes fading into a distant dream.