Page 20 of Celestia, Year Four

"Long, long ago, this reflected realm never existed. Every shifter that was born had their own element, whether it was a Fae shifter who belonged to nature, or a unicorn shifter who belonged to light. Everyone lived in harmony, including those who possessed dark magic. Due to the shift of times and the change in shifters mindsets, everyone began to believe those who used dark magic were bad or evil. Mother Nature always tests each hierarchy that comes into power,sending sludge like creatures across the lands for us to fight together and tighten our strength as one in unity. However, during a specific time of ruling, the people began categorizing those of dark magic with those sludge like beings."

"You mean Forsaken?" I clarified. "How can they mix the two up? I mean… Odion uses dark magic. Doesn't mean he's bad."

I noticed Odion's calm gaze, his eyes showing a bit of shock at my words. I smiled at him and we returned our gazes to Esme who nodded in understanding.

"You are correct. Due to many shifters feeling uneasy with the users who had strong dark magic and different appearances than the usual human appearance most of us carry, they began to label users of Darkness as Forsaken. Even if it was rather obvious, people began to hunt them and that led to a rebellion to vanquish those who use dark magic."

"Didn't the person in power at the time do something? That was before the High Council’s reign, correct?" I questioned.

Esme nodded. "Yes. The person did everything they could until a battle broke out unexpectedly when they tried to visit the users of dark magic to get their side of the story. Though the Queen was heavily guarded, she was hit with a strong enough attack that it left her in an unstable condition. Everyone assumed the dark users had attacked her and she'd been tainted. They didn't know the woman was attacked by those she worked endlessly to please."

"Did she..." I trailed off, the image of a woman coming from my mind.

Didn't I have a dream about a Queen? Don't tell me...

"Surrounded by six of her lovers, she passed away," Esme confirmed.

I lowered my head as my shoulders sank at the news. I felt horrible and I couldn't stop thinking of the woman from my dreams.

Did she really experience such a tragic end?

"She had six lovers?" I questioned. The thought felt off to me. Weren’t there more? Wait… how would I even know that?

"Seven," Odion muttered, and I noticed his eyes were looking down at his fingers, making me wonder if he was staring at his fidget spinner again.

"There were seven men in her life, but one wasn't present at the time of her death," Esme explained. I nodded, wanting to know more, but also needing to figure out how the Dark World came to be.

"So, when the Queen died, the Dark World was created?" I asked.

"Before the Queen's death, she requested for a moment alone. It is believed she used the last bits of her magic to request Mother Nature to make a safe haven for the beings of dark magic if a time came where they were hunted or exiled. That was when the Dark World was created, or so the tales explain it. However, Mother Nature was angry. She was upset that after many years of trials and successful unity, the people she gave everything to turned on their own. Mother Nature always appointed an individual that would act like a parent; a Queen being a mother or a King acting like a father of these lands."

Esme took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"She cursed the world with Forsaken, their existence never leaving since the day of the Queen's passing, compared to beforewhen they would fade away and allow the world to continue in their peaceful ways. Evil souls who attempted to enter the Dark World out of spite or revenge would be turned into Forsaken. For those shifters who were hunted, exiled, or murdered out of injustice, they would go through the trial of entering the Dark World as a way at a second chance at life. If they didn't survive, they would pass on and be judged like any other soul, but if they lived, they would remain in the Dark World, anticipating the day they could return to the surface."

"What if a Forsaken taints an individual and they die?" I asked.

"It's dependent on whether the Forsaken is one of Mother Nature's or of one created by an evil soul that previously lived. If tainted by Mother Nature's Forsaken, they would pass on. If it was by an Evil Soul Forsaken, the individual would be shifted into a Forsaken and be influenced by the dark things that occurred when they were living. For example, if the individual was bullied or fed to a Forsaken on purpose when they morphed into Forsaken, they would exact revenge to all those who try to do similar actions to others. It's a bit like revenge and justice mixed together, but very few have the capability to differentiate. "

"In terms of when Odion brought me to the Dark World… to uh… we were avoiding something. I went through that trial. That's why I was unconscious for so long?"

"Yes. See, when you entered the Dark World, your body was extremely weak. Being a unicorn shifter, you wouldn't have had much trouble coming through to the Dark World, even as a being of light. However, due to this Awakening Ceremony you underwent, your body had only a hint of magic left and that made you completely vulnerable. Due to your circumstances at the time and the chances of Lucian stalking your everymovement after discovering what you are, it made sense for Odion to bring you to the Dark World for your own safety."

"Lucian… who's that?"

"Old Darkness," Odion replied.

"Ah," I replied, trying not to ignore the familiarity to the name.

Where did I hear that name from?

"Because of my weakened state, I struggled to adapt to this world?"

"Yes. Odion explained to me that you'd gotten severely injured during your fight, but somehow healed yourself. The after effect of the high demand for energy made your body go into sudden shock and you fought a high fever for a full week. When it finally broke, you then had to deal with the trial of the Darkness. You most likely don't remember any of it, but you did at one-point call for Odion to help you."

I blinked and slowly turned to Odion who avoided my gaze.

"You like helping me a lot," I mumbled.

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