Chapter 28

Something lay festering in the heart of the dark realm. A slight thumping like a heartbeat could be heard from a distance. Its sinister red aura was spread over a hundred-foot radius and acted like a beacon for all nefarious creatures that dwelled in the dark realm.

They were gathering around it in swarms with their heads bowed down in submission. Waiting patiently for it to wake or command them. A sudden gust of wind blew and an ugly rotten face appeared from that festering heap. It shrieked: "Bring her to me, bring her to me now."

Serene's POV

I woke up with a jerk screaming. Ayrden rushed toward me and tried to calm me down. My heart was racing and I was drenched in my sweat. I looked at my surroundings in panic. Everything seemed normal, with no monsters or weird faces.

"Are you alright?" Ayrden asked me in a concerned voice. "Yes, it was just a nightmare." I tried to reassure her. "Do you always get nightmares?"

"Not at all, I don't even remember the last time I had a nightmare. But, this felt so real as if I was there."

"Let me get you some water." She brought me a glass which I gulped down in one go. "Feeling any better?" Ayrden asked and I nodded.

It was almost dawn and there was no point in sleeping again. Soon, we will be heading for the wall, I was guessing that's what was triggering nightmares. Ayrden went back to sleep but I lay awake thinking.

Finally, it was time to get ready and head down. We grabbed some breakfast and went out to the hall where Shumal Sensei was gathering everyone. Artins Sensei was standing with her as well. As soon as he saw me he motioned me to go outside. I took my leave from Ayrden and stepped outside on the grounds. Artins Sensei followed me and told me that I will be riding with him and Lavaria Sensei and that he has already spoken to Shumal about it. We will be using steam chariots, as the wall was at a great distance from here.

Steam chariots operated on a steam engine to propel and came in various sizes ranging from two seats to ten seats maximum with the driver's seat and steering wheel in front. Their wheels also increased in number according to size from a minimum of four to a maximum of eight wheels. Some of the chariots were open while others were closed. They were fast and proficient means of transport and the most widely used.

We were to be riding ahead of others, separately. In case any incident occurred they would be able to deal with it. Lavaria Sensei brought our four-seater chariot along and we got in and headed out.

"Don't worry, everything will be alright." Artins Sensei told me looking at my worried face. I tried to smile but I was too nervous. Lavaria Sensei was a skilled driver and in half an hour, I could see the wall from a distance. We kept approaching it at a steady speed but I felt no change in me.

At about a distance of 500 meters from the outer boundary of the wall we stopped. "Are you feeling alright?" Artins Sensei asked.

"Yes, I feel fine no rush." Lavaria Sensei parked the chariot and we got down. Both of them had taken attacking positions. Lavaria Sensei walked right in front of me while Artins Sensei was walking close to my right. We cautiously but gradually made our way towards the wall.

Suddenly, I heard a loud shriek coming from inside the Dark realm. As if a huge monster was in pain. The shriek was followed by another one and then another one as if they were communicating. Artins Sensei grabbed my arm and we stopped in our tracks. The black and violet thick jelly of the realm was in a constant swirl and I could sense and see something sinister behind it.

It looked like a monstrous snake with hundreds of arms and legs, it had two large wings which were keeping it in the air and glowing red eyes which were fixated on me. It was shrieking loudly revealing its sharp teeth inside a round face. I had never seen anything as hideous as him and if it wasn't for the barrier, it might have eaten us by now. Suddenly, it banged its head on the barrier as if trying to break it and escape.

"Now, that's a sight we hardly see. A Schlangto, which I have only read in our ancient books. A living breathing Schlangto. But they dwell underground and they don't have wings, can't understand why this one is so upset." Lavaria Sensei spoke in a confused voice.

A cold gust of wind hit me and I began to lose my senses. I could hear Lavaria and Artins Sensei's voices coming from a distance. My wings fluttered open and I felt like being drawn toward the Dark Realm. I felt a strong pair of hands grab me and push me back. Everything became a blur after that.

When I opened my eyes again, we were in the chariot. Artins Sensei was looking at me with a concerned look. I tried to sit up: "Easy now, keep laying down for a while."

"What happened?" I asked him. "It felt like you became a completely different person. Your eyes lost their kindness and your expressions became serious. You wanted to rush towards the Dark Realm as if its monsters were calling you and you were responding to the call. Lavaria and I had to grab you and move you away. Once we were about 200 meters from away from the Dark Realm you began to relax and lost consciousness." He explained.

"So it happened again. Why do I have to be so weak?" I said in a dejected mood.

"I don't think you are weak or it has anything to do with weakness. I think it's because of who you are and the history your ancestors share with Dark Realm. What I don't understand is why it's happening after all these centuries. The way that monster was acting, something is not right in the dark realm. We will keep this between us for now. But you will not go anywhere near the Dark Realm without a whole group or my permission." He was dead serious.

"Yes, Sensei I understand," I was too tired to say anything. Artins and Lavaria Sensei passed looks between each other as if saying they will discuss it later.

I just laid there and closed my eyes. I couldn't get the image of that monster out of my mind and what would happen if it gets me. I felt like he was just a pawn behind another sinister force.

We reached back. Artins Sensei told me to go to my room and rest while he will conduct an emergency teacher's meeting to discuss this. They wanted to keep this out of novices' ears. I went up to my room, Ayrden was not back yet. So I just flopped on my bed.