Page 48 of Cerulean Truth
Gradually, as I focused on my respiration and the calming presence of Stephen, I began to regain control. I looked at him, bewildered and still catching my breath from the ordeal. "What the hell just happened? Who were they? What did they want?"
Stephen's gaze was heavy with regret. "Emma, I'm so sorry. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, but I had no choice…it was the only way to get you through the gate…”
My jaw dropped.What?
Stephen nodded, his expression grave. “There was never a real threat. It was all an illusion, a setup, designed to ensure you'd fear for your life when stepping through the gate... James told me he believed you could only translate when your life was in danger, and if you don't project while passing through that gate, you get stuck in limbo or worse, you die."
My mind reeled with shock and anger. "Are you telling me, you faked the entire accident? The chase? The portals? Even the whole death-eater lookalikes were fake?"
He nodded, remorse in his eyes. "Yes, and I apologize for it. But it was a necessary step in safeguarding you, Emma. I hope you can forgive me the deception."
I shook my head, wondering what kind of world I had stumbled into if such endeavors were deemed normal.
Raising my head, I initially wanted to give him an earful, but as I took in my new surroundings for the first time, I was left utterly speechless.
The desert had vanished, and I found myself standing in paradise.
I was gazing upon the Grand Canyon, but instead of arid landscapes, there was lush greenery as far as the eye could see. The sight before me reminded me of a documentary I'd watched about Norwegian fjords, to which the landscape bore a striking resemblance.
The red-hued rocks harmonized elegantly with the crystal-clear blue waters, and the verdant fields, decorated with vibrant flowers and palm trees, encircling them. The fjords created an illusion of depth, stretching beyond imagination, offering a panoramic view which seemed to go on for miles on this perfectly clear day.
I had never witnessed such breathtaking splendor.
"Wow," I whispered, utterly thrilled, "this is..." My voice trailed off as I struggled to find the right words.
Stephen nodded with understanding and gently added, "Only the beginning. Welcome to the Second Layer." He smiled, a touch of apology still lingering in his tone.
I arched a brow. “The what?”
"Cyclos is a closed Collective, which means all magi live in one place, secured by natural and, of course, magical protections. This Collective is safeguarded by the Three Layers of protection, formed into concentric circles, shielding Cyclos from unwanted visitors."
"Sounds rather antisocial," I remarked boldly. Quickly, I added, "Sorry, that slipped out. It wasn't my intention to offend."
"You're more correct than you realize," Stephen muttered, but he didn't provide any further explanation.
"Now, the gate we came through can only be opened by using translation. That's the First Layer, and it keeps out all Nemecis," he continued.
"Nemesis? As in enemies?" I asked.
"No, as in NMCs," he smiled, "Non-Magical Creatures. Humans. It keeps out the humans because without magic, you can't translate the gate in the middle of the desert. And even if you happen to stumble upon someone who did, you’d need translation to get through it or you die."
The memory of how he gotmethrough it still stung, but I nodded, grasping the concept. "So, the First Layer is the gate, and it keeps out non-magical people. Got it."
Stephen smiled, and I made an effort to reciprocate, pushing aside my lingering irritation with his weird-ass protective approach.
Stephen explained, "The Second Layer is a little more special; it keeps out magi with 'bad intentions,' which is obviously a broad and rather subjective term."
I furrowed my brow and inquired, "How does it work?"
Stephen beamed with a twinkle in his eyes, eager to demonstrate.
"Let me show you. The fun part of the Second Layer is we get to fly through the fjords toward the Third Layer."
My expression must've betrayed my terror because Stephen's concern was evident. "Are you okay?" he asked.
I whispered in angst, "I don't know how to do that."
"Don't worry," he reassured me. "We'll do it together. You're not afraid of heights, are you?"
