Page 94 of Of Realms and Chaos

Stunned thoughts beat into me, feeling like a punch to the head in their fierceness. I nearly collapsed, my knees shaking and my vision swimming. But I did not fall. Instead, I forced my chin higher, and I readied myself for what I did best.

Let the dramatics begin.

Eyes falling closed, I slowly lifted my arms, letting my head tilt back. Wrath remained still, his claws digging into my skin. And then, with aching precision, I shoved my magic out, feeling as it grabbed hold of each mind it passed. They were like the tree roots on the outer walls of the temple, intricate and winding, but instead of broken and crumbling, these brightly lit up roots danced and sang.

The well of magic in my chest responded in kind, a conductor building their orchestra to a stunning crescendo. With every new instrument that began to play, my chest hummed louder, my magic swishing in the air to guide them all.

At the halfway mark, my fingers went numb.

At the two-thirds mark, I lost all feeling in my upper body.

At the three-quarters mark, my entire body was gone to me.

By the time my magic was crawling towards the final row of mortals, I was covered in tiny pinpricks, the tingle painful. It was like awakening after a long slumber. I felt both exhausted and revitalized, old and new. Somehow, I had simultaneously become the wave and the shore which it barreled into—like a never still, yet always steady, force of nature.

I opened my eyes, facing the crowd.

Mortals of Gandry and beyond, my name is Asher Daniox. I am the holder of minds, a goddess made flesh. I am here before you to call upon the holiest of warriors.

I registered the sudden shift, the edge to every mind in the coliseum. There was terror there as the low tenor of my mental voice sounded inside their heads. This was the make or break moment, when the mortals of Gandry—and elsewhere—would choose whether or not they would follow me.

Once, the beings of this world lived in unison. Beside you walked creatures with magic and power, and in the eyes of the gods, all were equal. But wickedness found its way inside Alemthian. War plagued your lands, destroyed your homes, and shredded your souls. Still, we gods see that worth in your hearts. We acknowledge your value and trust in your minds. The time has come, my children, to stand and restore the balance.

When the first mortal stood, prepared to run, I dug deeper into their minds—found purchase there.

Stay, I told them. Listen.

For the greater good, I thought as my stomach began to churn.

I ask you not to bow or pray but to lift your swords and fight for tomorrow. The fae king and queen seek to take up arms against the demon king. They wish to conquer and destroy. But hear me when I say, the fae are not your enemy, nor are the demons. You are one, and you must fight for that today and every day after.

I heard Xavier’s voice then, the memory pulling my thoughts from the scene in front of me.

“When two of us decide to put ourselves above the realm, the realm shall fall. Therefore, it is with great sorrow that I sentence them both to death. For if not them, then all of us shall surely perish.”

As those words echoed inside my head, merging with the steadily growing uproar within the coliseum, I noted that I was slowly getting my hearing back. Arms held out, as if waiting for an embrace, I caught sight of a pair of honey eyes. My own began to prick with tears as Sipho—my Sipho—smiled at me from the front row. His deep skin was just as youthful as the last time I saw him, his black curls a disaster. He wore a silver tunic and black trousers, with his mothers necklace around his neck—my necklace. Above the sound of the crowd, I heard his soothing and lovely voice as he spoke to me.

“You can do this, My Soul.”

I let out a soft sob as he nodded my way, encouraging me to press on. So I did.

Your devout and brave king has promised his sword. Will you follow in his steps? Will you fight for your kingdom, your realm, and your world? Will you fight for your gods?

“As above, so below!” Trint shouted, a fist rising into the air.

Then they were all standing, their screamed chant of “as above, so below” bursting my ears and stealing that numbness from me. A wave of agony washed over my body, taking my breath. My vision went black, Sipho’s clapping form the last thing I saw. And then I was gone.

***

“Well, it’s definitely an interesting development. But this does make everything easier.” A voice, sultry and deep, was speaking. That meant I could hear again, how nice.

Whisky and leather hit my nose, a smell that was not heavy or overwhelming but rather pleasant. When I opened my eyes, I was in a bed that was all too familiar. My upper body shot up, terror leaving me breathless. This time, the gray sheets felt more real. As if, somehow, I was here in truth, rather than just in my mind.

That frightened me more than the female and male that stood in the corner, both watching me with satisfied and eager smiles. The female, who I assumed was the one who spoke before, was ethereal. She had blonde hair, which just barely kissed her sharply pointed ears. Her skin was dark, full lips painted in a stunning shade of red. On her body she wore a cascading red dress, the silk hugging her full figure. The look in her eyes bordered on predatory, like I was an offering gifted to her.

Padon stood at her side, tall and muscular, with a far better hair cut this time around—the dark strands now more even and full. His shirt was also a sort of violent scarlet, the loose-fitting blouse looking both too large and somehow just right. His trousers were pure black, at such odds with his nearly translucent skin. Around his shoulders was a thick, black cloak. He stared at me with an excited longing, like someone who was starved of something and then finally had it within their reach.

I think I feared his expression more than hers.

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