#48: Can You Believe We’re Going to Save the World?!?

I had never walked through a portal before. I know that there are people that can use spatial magic that can teleport and create portals, but I was never sure what really happened when you walked through it. Was it really you that passed through to the other side or a magical copy? How would we even know? I knew that I basically accepted that none of those concerns mattered when I ran off with Gin and Dara to become an adventurer. Using magic to travel is just part of the gig.

I didn’t know what to expect the Fey Realm to look like, but I definitely did not expect it to remind me so much of home. The ground was covered with plant life, and we were surrounded by trees, except for a humble dirt path leading deeper into the forest. I wasn’t really sure what to do next. Were we just looking around? Now that we’ve done it, are we pretty much done now? I looked to Dara so I could follow his lead.

Dara was still stumbling but began shambling forward down the path. I followed him without looking back because I knew Gin and Tilly would be close behind. I still didn’t know where we were going, but I didn’t have to wonder for long. The clearing opened up into a large settlement nestled in the trees. As soon as we emerged from the forest, an older elven woman with dark skin ran up to us.

“Do you have word of the other side? What is happening?” She said.

“We came here as part of a pilgrimage,” I said, continuing our cover.

“We haven’t seen anyone from the other side in weeks. We were worried something happened,” she said, panicked.

“You may be right about that,” Dara began. “The portal gate wasn’t working. All the trees and grass around it was dead. I was able to bring it back to life with my magic, but I don’t know what caused it.”

“He’s trying to cross to the other side,” she said cryptically.

“Who is he?” Tilly asked.

“As pilgrims, you must know that Pro’Va isn’t truly the god the people of Kapoor worship. We all worship the fey god, Sayanna. Sweet Sayanna was the one that granted elves our great magic power. The seasonal courts forget, but we of the River remember,” she said reverently.

“So this Sayanna is trying to come to Galevyn? That doesn’t sound so bad. You just called her sweet,” Gin concluded.

“Oh, were it just Sayanna I was referring to. You see, her brother, Puché has always been jealous of her. We should have seen this coming. Once we convinced the humans to perform rituals to honor Sayanna, of course Puché would desire to cross over and destroy your world,” she explained.

“Destroy? I don’t like the sound of that,” Tilly said.

“Nor should you,” the elven woman agreed. “We of the River have built a life utilizing both sides of the portal. It would be challenging to return to only utilizing our limited space in the Fey Realm.”

“I’m sorry, who are you?” Dara said, a little frazzled. “This is a lot to take in. I’ve always learned there were eight gods. Every child in Angalchel knows that. And each god rules over a different domain of magic. That’s just how it works. And you’re telling me that Kawma was a different god all along?”

“Forgive me, young ones, my name is Sitara. I am the elder on this side of the gate.” she said, introducing herself. “I do not know of this Kawma you speak of. We simply convinced the humans of Kapoor to honor their god, Pro’Va, with rituals meant for our Sayanna. I do not know if Pro’Va or this Kama you mention is real. I have my doubts based on what we know about the knowledge of those on your side of the gate. But Sayanna and Puché are both very real. Sayanna has continued to support us in your realm, now it appears Puché hopes to oppose us.”

Well, that explanation was a mixed bag. I’m sure Dara was following it, but all I got was she called everyone from Galevyn stupid and thinks our gods are fake. But if there is a real threat against our home, someone has to do something. And are we adventurers, or are we adventurers?

“We have to help. What can we do?” I asked.

“Come with me. I have the supplies you will need to defeat Puché. He is likely posing as another god, much like our arrangement with Sayanna. However, his dark machinations are not meant for mainstream consumption. He likely has far fewer followers or at least many small sects. One of these must be gaining power. I imagine they would appear to you as an extremist cult to one of your world’s other gods,” She finished.

“Do you have any idea where we would even start?” Tilly said as we began to follow her.

“This I do know. Once the portal stopped functioning, I scryed on your world to see if there were any large collections of magic that would be associated with Puché. I found a heavy concentration of necromancy on the northeastern coast of the land your people refer to as Daragon,” she said.

“Necromancy?” Dara thought. “They must be posing as a Quietus cult.”

“At least we’re close to Daragon. I’m sorry, but does no one else feel really excited? Can you believe we’re going to save the world?!?” Gin stated.

“I sure hope so, Gin,” I replied.

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These stories serve as inspiration for the upcoming short story collection, Tyranny of the Fey. The collection will be released on August 15th, 2023. You can pre-order it now!

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