Javan did not want to ride the giant iguanas. No, large would be an understatement. Those creatures were brown behemoths. Horns protruded from the sides of their bulbous round heads. Their four meaty appendages scraped the floor, digging holes in the ground. They had a beak for a mouth; their tongues were spotted and sticky and they loved to lick people, spreading their disgusting scent to those uninitiated, and Javan was uninitiated. The reins wrapped around their neck seemed inadequate to control this new race of dinosaurs.
All the members of Estreia’s squad were gearing up. All except Estreia. She stood on the battlefield, gazing out at the carnage. She held a knife in her hand.
“Empress, I humbly request that you get on your ride,” said Dracon. Time is of the essence.”
The Empress did not respond. She didn’t even take the time to look back at him. Her focus remained on the lying bodies of her men and the burnt corpses of her enemies. She gripped her knife with enough strength to break it in two. Then, she brought the knife to her leg. Before anyone could stop her, she had sliced her leg, blood dripping on the ground.
“Empress, there was no need for you to—”
“They died by my mistakes!” Dracon went silent. Estreia’s voice quivered. She kept her face hidden from the others. The dead would not think less of her for her tears.
“It was my fault for not noticing the cultists coming on to us. I realized that the adventurer had been attacked by one of them when we approached his body near the march, but I did not plan for a proper defense. Clergy members of the Fatalists always travel in packs. If I had moved more quickly, analyzed the situation further, I could have saved them.” The other warriors looked at her in shock.
“No one blames you, Empress.”
“But the blame must be on me.” She mouthed some words to herself. Then she turned to Dracon, her face as clear and strong as always.
“I must honor them as per the traditions, Dracon. They were our allies. I will not abandon them”
“Empress.” He was about to go out and reach out to her, only for a cloaked figure to get to her first. A man draped in red emerged from the ground below. Before the Empress could realize the situation, the mysterious person grabbed Estreia from behind, lifting her off the ground. She kicked him clean in the face. The force should have taken his head from his body, but the man survived with just a bloody nose.
“Praise be to Lord Fate,” said the red-cloaked man. “I have the perfect hostage.”
The warriors readied their weapons, their faces as stern as Javan had ever seen them. Dracon’s sword glowed with a dark energy.
“Drop the Empress now, or I’ll give you a fate worse than death.”
“You may try, Dracon the Accursed, but I wonder if your princess will survive the effects of your blade.” Dracon cursed to himself.
“Let my Empress go!” Stheno pulled out a wooden bow, the arrows drenched in a purple substance. She aimed directly at the man’s head.
“Shoot and I’ll kill her.” He held the knife against Estreia’s neck. Estreia for her part twisted and turned, but she could not get out of the man’s grip. It was amazing that a man of such a regular build could contain a woman as large and powerful as Estreia, especially with her transformation ability.
“How tragic. Such a powerful opponent reduced to squirming and quivering when not attached to your precision earth. To think the power of a dragon can be defeated just by staying a few inches off the Earth. Isn't our Lord Fate so amusing?
“You wretched cultists. Unhand me.”
“No can do. Destiny calls for more and more sacrifices. My sister has been faithful to that end in that world beyond worlds. Such fealty makes me realize my own weakness, a weakness that today I will correct.
“Serpentines,” said Zephir. “Surround the man. Make sure he can not escape.”
The warriors circled the cultist. They etched on closer and closer. The cultist pressed the curved knife on Estreia’s neck. The serpentine warriors stopped their advice.
“You are at my mercy now, just as all our at the mercy of Fate.” The man spoke with such enthusiasm that in any other scenario, it might have been contagious. “Oh sister, soon I will be taken as an arch-bishop just like you.”
Sister. Javan put two-and-two together. Suddenly, he realized that Estreia was not the main target.
“Let her go,” Javan said, walking towards him. The crowd of Serpetines made way as he walked towards the cultist.
“And who are you?” The cultist stared him down.
“I am the one your sister killed back in my world, Javan. The man’s face broke into a devilish grin.
“Oh, Javan. It is so nice to see you again. My sister has told me so much about you during her trip. She even told me the correct way on how to kill you so I won’t mess up like before. Oh, Lord Fate, thank you for giving me another chance to correct my mistake.
“Let go of the Empress, and take me instead.” The Empress glared at Javan.
“You can not risk yourself for my sake, boy. You must serve an important cause.”
“Don't sweat it too much, mam.” Javan gave her a wink. ``Understand your safety is guaranteed if you ally with me.”
“If you want me to trade hostages, then come closer,” said the cultist.
Javan got to where was but a breath away from the man who had almost killed him before. Now that he knew what dying was like, he felt even more scared of the confrontation. He could barely control the shaking in his body. If the confrontation was to last much longer he would certainly vomit on the spot. However, he knew that his life depended on that large woman and her army. His chance to regain his old life rested in her massive hands. Some risks had to be made.
“Now drop her,” said Javan.
“Why, of course.” The man threw Estreia to the ground and leaped at Javan, knife in hand. He aimed directly for his chest for the killing blow. This time, Javan knew where he was going to strike. He caught the arm before the knife could make contact. He kept his stance low, much like how the warriors kept close to the ground to use their abilities. He arched his back and with a strong push, tossed the cultists over his back and onto the ground.
“I won’t fall for the same trick again. I may be weak, but I learn.”
“Why you,” said the cultists, trying to rise only to be stopped by Dracon.
“Die,” he said, stabbing right into the man’s heart. The man gasped as the blade exited his body. He should have been dead, but through powers, unknown seemed able to say a few final words.
“This is great. Fate has deemed it necessary for my body to pass down. Clearly, he has loved the work I have done and seen it fit for me to return to the grave. However,” his bloodshot eyes stared knives into Javan.
“Your troubles have only just begun. In your world, my sister has already started her plans on eliminating those who might oppose us: your family, for instance.”
“You wouldn’t.” Javan tensed up.
“In around thirty days I would say, once the High Mother has stabilized the gate, we will kill everyone you love, all for the sake of Fate. Isn’t that wonderful? Isn’t it great just how important the death of you and your family is?”
“Enough of you.” Dracon made it so that the cultist could no longer speak.
Javan stared at the fallen corpse, his emotions unbalanced. Fear and rage, determination and despair filled his headspace. He had hoped the woman masquerading as Tiffany would be satisfied with his own death. Now, not only did he have to find a way to get back, he had a deadline. His sister's life was on the line.
Javan looked away from the other warriors. Estreia went up to him and, in a gesture, he thought she would never do, placed her hands on his shoulders. Maybe it was because of what she had just gone through before that she could understand when someone else needed to let loose.
With the last enemy defeated, the Serpentines climbed up on their giant lizards. Dracon glanced at Javan from his reptilian steed and nodded his head. A simple act, but powerful nonetheless. Maybe Javan could make friends with him after all.
Javan rode with Stheno, who handled the reigns. She was easy to talk to compared to the others, likely due to her similar stature and outgoing personality. From here, Javan learned about the brand new world he found himself in.
They were traveling to the Volcan Empire, the land where the dragon never dies. Ruled by the elite Volcanian family, the empire was headed by either an emperor or empress. Stheno was ignorant of the specifics, but apparently a long time ago one of the founding warrior families decided that rulership should transition from one sex to the other. This was, she theorized, to prevent the murder of female children found solely in the upper class. Estreia was in conflict with her sisters and their dignitaries to win the throne from her father. Javan thought his family life was messy.
“There are many in the empire who stand against our Empress. Ever since...no, I can’t say, but after a point, there existed many who would use nefarious tactics to bring her down. Traitors are always an issue.”
“Is that why Dracon does not trust me?”
“Yes, but only partially. He is a naturally untrusting man. Regardless, I think he might look more positively at you.”
“I can only hope.” Stheno touched one of the green orbs that hung from her ears.
“These times are dangerous now, but with you, Our Empress will win over her sisters.”
“How so?” Stheno started to talk, but covered her mouth before she could say anything. She took a couple of breaths before she spoke again.
“Sorry, I’m saying too much. Who knows how fate will play if I don’t keep my mouth shut. I’m sorry, Javan.” She looked downtrodden. Clearly, she enjoyed informing others.
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“That's fine, Stheno.” He didn’t believe that, of course. He needed all the information he could to survive in this world, but making friends came first.
“If this is something you can answer, how did Dracon and Zephir transform like that? The Empress talked about manifesting the forms of Earth’s animals. What does that mean, exactly?”
A smile appeared on Stheno’s face, the smile any student could recognize on a truly dedicated and caring teacher.
“No, I can answer that, Javan. We call it amphormocation.”
“Wow, that’s a really long name.”
“No, it's pretty short, actually.” Javan wondered if she was trying to show off.
“The process takes the information stored at the Earth’s core, all the life-forms that have ever existed, and provides those structures to those tasked with the ability to control it.”
“The Earth’s core?”
“Yes, the Earth’s gateway. You can consider it the planet’s brain.”
“A living planet. Frankly, it isn’t the weirdest thing I’ve had to take in recently.”
“Is your Earth not alive then?” Stheno sounded serious, but Javan couldn’t take it that way. He laughed more than he did all week as Stheno tried to get him to answer.
Only when the warriors stopped to rest did Javan start to fully appreciate the strange environment around him. In his world, this area would be classified as a marsh. A shallow layer of water flooded the grassy landscape. Javan didn’t know plants, but he recognized plants similar to sawgrass and cattails. The weirdest thing about the area are the large mushrooms. They were about the height of a birch tree with red and yellow coloring. They emitted green grass, likely large spores, into the surrounding area. They might have been editable but Javan didn’t want to take the risk.
The area’s heat put a sauna to shame. Even though it was nearly nighttime, the sun still bared all its afternoon strength. He was a shower of sweat. He took off his shirt, a Superman t-shirt a bit too small for him now. Javan heard a loud buzzing noise from somewhere behind him. He swung his shirt to deflect the most disgusting bird he had ever seen. The creature rebounded from the strike unharmed. Looking closely at it, Javan realized--that was not a bird. Compound eyes, large transparent wings, appendages that carried a small fish inside its grasp. It was a giant fly.
The fly charged again at Javan. Javan did not want the smoke. He jumped out of the way, narrowly avoiding the collision. The fly, however, wanted a fight. Again, the fly flew at him, only to be met by a knife that turned him into a kabob.
“Nasty creatures,” Estreia said. She sat down next to him. He remembered not to stare directly at her face and instead looked at her neck.
“Are all the insects in this land this large?”
“Large?” asked Estreia. “That was likely a newborn., not nearly enough to eat” Javan really hoped that this land had some type of magical bug spray. Estreia put away her knife. She clasped her hands and gathered the water laying around them to drink.
“It’s freshwater, you know. I can tell you’re running out of water.”
Javan gulped. No matter how she justified it, it was still disgusting. Estreia took in many handfuls of water before she spoke again.
“Why did you put yourself in such danger, traveler?”
“To help you out of course. I know you're strong in all, but you seemed out of your element once he got you off the ground.”
‘That fiend.” Estreia snarled. Her voice rose in intensity. “I have never been lifted up in such a demeaning manner. That cultist’s strength was far beyond normal. To lift someone of my height, of my ability, and take me away from my roots. Such a strange existence that cultist was.” She took in some breaths before continuing.
“But, still, how did you know that my amphormocation works only when touching the ground? Stheno might have divulged the information but Dracon would never have let her in his presence.
“I didn’t. I just thought you needed some help.” Estreia shook her head.
“I know I shouldn’t say this to my rescuer, but I was fine without you. Being put off my source of power is debilitating. There are ways to overcome that weakness. But you...your weakness if far more than your physical weakness.”
“That hurts. I’ve been trying to bulk up, ya know.”
“Do you...value your life, Javan.” Javan laughed.
“Why, of course I do? No one wants to die. Even if I already went through the process before, I still don’t want to through it again.”
“Yet you risk your life for someone you know is far stronger than you against an opponent that nearly killed you before. To risk your life for a person you barely know against an opponent you could never defeat on your own, what else can I call that besides a suicide mission?”
“Javan stared at the ground before him. From the pools of water, he could see his own reflection. He was dirty, hideous even. Dirt covered his head. His face looked like it had aged ten years. His body ached. His everything ached.
“ No, no you don’t get it. Saving you was necessary for me. You're the only ones who can help me return to my real world.”
“And why do you think we would do such a thing? I don’t even know if such a thing is possible. Are you not just acting out a delusion?”
“Maybe so, but I’m desperate. I got nowhere else to go. I have a feeling thought, ya know. The same feeling I felt the day I walked through the graveyard. My soul tells me guys are important to achieve my wishes. To protect my sister and those who I care about, you guys are the only ones who can help me with that.”
“You’re insane.”
“I know. I’m a madman through and through. I don’t even know what I will do once I cross that interdimensional barrier. Those cultists could run me through any time of the week. I only got that one guy because I knew where he was going to attack. I hope to learn some of your magical abilities and whatnot, but even then...” He sighed. The person in his reflection looked hopeless.
“There’s no going back from here. If I die, then I die. That’s what happens when all you can do is look forward.” Estreia sighed.
“I never took you as someone this brave. No, bravery isn’t the right word. This is the definition of stupidity. And yet, I’ll be rooting for you.” She stood up and looked at the tall grass behind her.
“Dracon, are you satisfied now?” Javan heard some rustling noises.
“Anyhow, traveler.” She turned to face Javan one last time. “I promised you protection before. Promises are sacred in our land. They are the blood that connects people together. If you can, please promise me this. Promise that you will do the best you can to save yourself. Promise not to risk your life for the sake of others.” Javan made a motion to shake her hand, but then remembered. Instead, he just put his hand in the air.
“You’ve got the wrong idea of me, Express. I’m no hero.”
Estreia headed out to the other warriors. A strong intimidating autocrat, a caring nurturing leader. Who was she really? She was likely going to be his greatest ally, and yet, he knew so little about her. She clearly valued him, but for what reason Javan could not discern. It didn’t seem to be out of altruism. She may be kind, but she was practical as well. A weakling like him, as much as it hurt for him to think about it, was a liability.. Somehow, his existence in this world was important to her succession to the throne. In that matter, it didn’t even seem that much of a problem to her if he left as long as he fulfilled some sort of role or mission. Stheno and the others knew of his role, but refused to explain. Only time would tell how their two destinies would converge.
Javan could not sleep. Maybe it was the overbearing heat. Maybe it was the funky mushroom soup and roasted fly legs he ate for dinner. Likely both. He decided to walk around a bit, a very little bit given the giant insects that could snatch him away at any second.
Most of the Serpetines were already fast asleep. The warmth never bothered them anyway. He walked a bit until he came across a warrior lying down. His eyes stared right back into Javan’s.
Dracon. Javan was about to speak until he heard a hard snoring emerging from Dracon’s motionless body. Dracon’s stomach heaved.
Figures a guy like him sleeps with his eyes open. Javan continued walking. He came up to the edge of a river. Crickets chirped in the background though they sounded much more orchestral than the ones at home. There were likely giants too.
“Noisy things aren’t they,” said a familiar voice. Javan looked around until he saw Zephir sitting at the edge of the river. His ponytail blew violently in the wind, though surprisingly it did not come loose. Zephir wasn’t looking at him. Instead, he stared at a portrait he held in his hands.
“I know you would love it here. You always loved staring at your reflection in the water. Even with my complaints, you never could separate yourself from nature.”
Javan hid behind some tall grass. Zephir seemed a lot safer to talk to than Dracon and Estreia, but out of the three of them, he knew him the least.
“It has been far too long since we last spoke. I have so much to tell you, but I want to wait until we get back to the city. I will never forget my loyalty to you, My Empress Fortuna. You made me, built me from the trash I was born into a warrior worthy of your praise. I know that for now, I follow your sister, Lady Estreia, but my bonds will remain with you.” He kissed the portrait.
Javan was shocked. From the looks of it, Zephir was a traitor. His loyalty was to one of the other potential candidates to the throne. Perhaps he should tell Estreia. He started to slowly walk away.
“Who’s there?” Javan froze in his tracks. Zephir rose, his spear in hand. He searched around before walking in the other direction.
A feeling of relief passed through Javan. That was too close. He walked in the other direction back to where he failed to sleep before until he ran directly into a tall figure that knocked him to the ground.
“Hey Javy,” said Zephir. He plunged his spear into the ground. “Need a hand.”
Javan hesitantly took his hand. Zephir had the widest grin on his face.
“It's nice to see you again. I love to see fresh faces after all, and yours is most certainly unique.” He shook his hand with enough strength to break it.
“We’re allies, right? I want us to be, anyway. Not like Drakey, since he can be rather standoffish and cruel, but more like the relationship you have with Stelly. Honestly, I’m kind of jealous of you two right now”
“Yeah, of course.” Zephir was still shaking his hand. He tried to break free from his grip but he held on tight.
“Have I told you how important you are, Javy? Sorry, if I was to explain further, I would be just as bad as Stelly, and we can’t have that can we.”
“Yeah, it's fine.” The situation was not fine.
“Anyhow, I heard you're trying to get back to your world. I hope for the best.”
“Thank you.” Javan tried to escape again, but the grip only grew in strength.
“Listen, Javy--no Javan. Be honest with me. How much did you hear?” Javan stuttered.
“Hear? Hear what? I didn't even know you were here.” Zephir laughed, and Javan joined in.
“I see. Sorry, that must have been a weird question to ask.”
“No problem, my guy. I mean, we’re friends, right? We have the right to ask each other weird questions.
“Yes, you are certainly right”. He was bent over laughing. Even in a different world, Javan thought the situation wasn’t that funny.
“Okay then. Is it alright if I ask another weird question?”
“Yeah, sure. It’s all fair game.” Zephir looked up at the sky so that Javan couldn’t see his eyes.
“Are you willing to die for her?” Zephir maintained his jovial appearance.. Javan went silent.
“Um, well, I....”
“I’m kidding. I’m kidding” Zephir released his fiery grip on Javan. The pain subsided. Any longer, and he might have been a lefty.
You don’t have to risk your life for this adventure, Javy. You're a stranger to this land, are you not? You’re no soldier. You’re no Volcanian citizen. You’re just an outsider who just so happens to be traveling with us. Don't bend yourself out of shape just for a country you don’t belong to. There’s no need to stick out your neck like you’ve been doing so far. Turtles who stick their necks out too long rarely make it back in their shells.
Zephir waved at him as he walked away.
“Stay safe and remember not to do anything unnecessary! It's Our Lady’s orders after all” Zephir kept his eyes on him as he walked away. Perhaps his gaze never truly left him.
Javan nodded in response. There wasn’t much he could do about the situation. No more words needed to pass between them. And yet.
Javan looked back at where Estreia lay. Even the most powerful person can look defenseless while asleep. She could certainly handle herself when the time came, but everyone had to rest, eventually. To risk his life for someone much stronger than him to someone he could never defeat--that truly was insanity. But, if it allowed him to return home, he didn’t care what trials and tribulations lay before him. As long as he got what he wanted, little else mattered.
***
Life was cruel. Mariyah knew that, but the full understanding of the idea only came to her during the funeral. The body was too disfigured to look at. She couldn’t imagine that the coach could birth such a demon, but evil existed even in the kindest households. Dad cried his heart out. He hadn’t been this way since Mom was around. If only Javan knew how much he cared about him. Never mind. It was too late now.
Mariyah hated the color black. The black gown she wore to her brother's funeral made her sick. The black casket where her brother lay pained her. The black eye she received that night still haunted the family. In a way, that might have been what killed him. If only he knew how much had changed.
Behind Mariyah sat a man in a black suit. His bald head reflected the sun into others' eyes. His eyes stared only at Mariyah. A plan long in the making was about to begin.