Nova had expected to hunt down the mysterious man after a few days, or even weeks. She did not expect him to come knocking at their doorstep. Theron made the enchantmobile fly as fast as it could, and finally, the wildberry fields were in view. The wide expanse of burning embers was a stark contrast to the green trees and luscious grass they had just flown over. With a swift scan of her eyes, Nova located the cloaked figure in the midst of the embers and smoke.
“Theron, I see him!” She pointed to where the man was standing still.
“I’m going to hover right above him; you will have to jump off from a few feet. I don’t want our only method of comfortable transport to go up in flames,” Theron said as the enchantmobile began descending.
“Oh my god, is that really what you care about right now?” Nova looked at him in disbelief.
“I mean, yeah. How else will we get home?”
Nova rolled her eyes and shifted her focus to the dark figure, who was still standing there suspiciously, as if waiting for something.
“Why do you think he’s just standing there?” She asked Theron.
“I’m just wondering if his feet are made of ice. Doesn’t he feel the burn? He’s standing in the middle of a burning field for realms’ sake.”
The enchantmobile was finally at a safe enough level for Nova to jump off. “You’re not coming?” she asked Theron.
“I’m the wildcard Nova. I will be your knight in shining armor when you need me.”
Nova did not say anything; she was fed up with him. Assessing the distance between her and the ground, she leaped off the vehicle and landed on her feet like a cat, directly in front of the man.
The man did not move a single inch. She looked up at him and saw his electric violet eyes staring down at her. He had folded his arms across his chest as if casually waiting for a late friend to arrive so they could enjoy a nice dinner. Nova could see his face in detail; he looked well taken care of. His auburn hair looked shampooed and combed, his boots polished, the black cloak in perfect condition, his face lacking any signs of a stubble or beard that most men would have grown in his situation.
“It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the cause of disturbance in our realm,” Nova said accusingly, her hands pointed at him as a safeguard, ready to cast a spell if needed.
The man only chuckled. “It’s good to see you too, Nova.” His accent sounded abnormal, nothing like she had heard, he must have picked up their language.
Nova’s eyes widened. “How do you know my name?”
“That should not concern you. What should concern you is that your shoes are slowly melting because of the heat.”
Nova looked down at her feet and realized he was right; the soles of her shoes were leaving sticky melted residue on the ground. She glanced up at him again, muttering an incantation that caused the ground around her feet to sizzle. Where there were once burning embers, it now looked like someone had poured a bucket of water with enough force to quench the fire. The rest of the field still burned, so she needed to figure out the best way to take this man to the King.
“I don’t know who you are, how you know my name, or why you’re setting fields on fire. What I do know is that you’re under arrest. I am taking you into custody and delivering you to the Crystal Palace. King Alaric awaits your arrival,” Nova said, a tone of finality in her voice.
The mysterious man just looked at her with amusement, as if he had not registered a single word she had said. “Nova, Nova, Nova. I am not the threat you think I am. I am here to aid your cause.”
Nova was suspicious as she asked, “What do you mean ‘my cause’?”
“Isn’t it obvious? You’re one of those astrals that people here can’t seem to stop talking about. You probably became one because you want to protect this world. I am here to help, that is all.”
Nova crossed her arms. If he wanted to waste her time, so be it. She wanted to catch him off guard and freeze him before he could pull anything, so it would be best for him to be completely immersed in spinning his little tale when she did that.
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“Fine, tell me exactly how you can help,” she said, feigning interest.
The man smiled. “You’re very smart to hear me out. I come here, to your ‘Luminae,’ because I have a goal. I arrived over a year ago, but before that, I was in Aqualis.”
Nova’s eyes narrowed as she stared at him. “Aqualis? They let you in their realm?”
“Why, yes! They welcomed me with utmost joy and were quite the hosts. I only wish Luminae were like them, beckoning me into their space with open arms.”
“You really expect me to believe that? The Aqualis people are hostile to outsiders. Why would they welcome you?”
“Because they know my value. They know that not listening to me would be a mistake.”
“So you’re one of those dictator types? Going around and threatening people to do exactly as you say or suffer the consequences of your wrath?”
The man laughed. “You’re funny, Nova. I wish I were powerful enough to make people do my bidding, but alas that is not the case.”
“Then what is the case? And who are you anyway?”
“My apologies, where are my manners these days? Let me introduce myself properly, and I would like for your Prince to be a part of this conversation as well. I believe he’s parked his unique machinery behind those trees,” he said, pointing at a cluster of trees in the distance.
The man started walking towards them, and Nova followed him. They were off the burning fields now. She was surprised to see that the man was correct; Theron did park the enchantmobile behind those trees. He was pressing a few buttons on the vehicle when the man spoke.
“My Prince! It is a pleasure to meet you finally!” he said, lowering himself into a deep bow.
Theron jumped in his seat, then whipped his head around to look at the source of the voice, eyes wide in surprise. He looked at the man before his eyes shifted to Nova, a sense of relief washing over him as he realized she was there too.
“Hello, um…” he said, feeling puzzled.
The man straightened from his bow as he spoke. “I am here to introduce myself to the two of you officially. I know that Your Highness and Ms. Crestwood are here for the sole purpose of finding me. Well, rejoice, for I have decided to come here myself and save you the time and effort.”
Theron and Nova exchanged confused looks, trying to figure out what this man was getting at.
“I am Lucius Everhart, and I come here to warn you.”
“Warn us about what?” Nova was getting tired of this.
“Of the imminent danger, of course. I come from Aetheria and am quite esteemed in the Aetherian court, owning the entirety of the Everhart manor and the surrounding properties.”
“I don’t think flaunting your wealth has an impact here, Mr. Everhart. You’re talking to the prince of Luminae,” said Nova, her voice tinged with annoyance. She disliked it when people presumed themselves superior to others based on wealth.
“Oh, no! That was not my intention at all! I was only saying this to prove that I am, in fact, an established and successful member of society, not a lunatic who came here to wreak havoc.”
Nova rolled her eyes, but Theron seemed intrigued. “Proceed,” he said.
“I was sent here because the Aetherian court’s most esteemed seer has prophesied great misfortune—something that will affect not just my realm, but yours and countless others too.”
Nova scoffed. “Yeah right, as if we are supposed to believe that. Do you really think this ‘seer’ is capable of predicting such things? For all we know, it could just be made up.”
“Nova, I have to say I did not expect you, an astral walker, to dismiss the prophecy of a seer. You traverse realms; why do you doubt the ability to look into the future?”
“Maybe because we have no proof of it,” she replied, folding her arms across her chest.
"Then how do you explain my presence here today? How would I have known that I would find you here, if not for the seer's instructions?"
Theron decided he had heard enough. “Alright, Mr. Everhart. If what you’re saying is true, I believe you will have no objections to my proposition. How about you travel with us in this magnificent automobile, and go to the Crystal Palace? I think my father would be quite interested in hearing about this prophecy.”
Lucius seemed pleased with this. “But of course! I have been waiting for such an opportunity! You will not believe the countless times I have asked the people here how to get to the palace, but they all just stare at me or run away as if they have seen a ghost!”
“That dark cloak sure does help,” said Nova.
“Alright, it’s settled then. You’re coming with us, so get in,” said Theron.
Nova waited for the man to settle into the backseat before climbing into her usual spot at the front, next to the Prince. Leaning in, she whispered as he pressed some buttons on the vehicle, “We need to interrogate him before he meets King Alaric. I mean, he knew where to find us but didn't know how to get to the Palace. This seems suspicious.”
“Do that while we travel. We’ve got a few uninterrupted hours anyway. I’ll just make a quick stop at the inn so we can gather our belongings.”
“Alright,” she said. Although she was very alert in the man's presence, she couldn't help feeling a sense of relief. No matter what, they had completed this task, and so soon at that. She only wondered what Lucius had to say. Whatever it was, she did not care as long as she delivered him to the King, just as she was instructed to do.
The enchantmobile soon levitated off the ground, and once it was high enough for her to see just how damaged the fields were now that the fire had extinguished, they took off.