This story will most likely be a slow burn as the first chapters will have to build both the post-apocalyptic future Earth and the otherworld. The magic system will be fairly loose as I am not a fan of super strict magic systems. Earth will definitely try to make magic conform to rules but by nature magic in the setting is very fuzzy. This story will not be war and battles on the get-go but will focus on Earth's attempts to expand and extract resources from the otherworld which will predictably lead to conflicts.
Three men stalked through the forest floor; gigantic trees towered over them with canopies too high to see. The massive trunks seem to form walls confining them from all sides casting long shadows that twisted and morphed as powerful winds were shattered against the branches.
The old man leading the group bent down looking at the boar's tracks. “We’re close, but it seems like we’re a bit late.” he whispered as he observed the disturbed ground.
“What do you mean late we’re the only ones hunting around here are you saying poachers got in?” The second hunter behind him asked, they had tracked this boar the entire morning and the thought of going back empty-handed made his brow furrow.
“I don’t think so Willas, those rats knew we were heading over. They cleared out days ago” the third hunter answered.
“Then what chased our boar? A bear?”—Willas snorted—” I hope those bastards messed up. We haven't disciplined 'em for a while now.” he grinned with a malicious glint in his eyes.
“Alright we’ve no use standing around here let’s find out what made a boar as big as this one run away so quickly. Maybe we could find a good beast to complete our hunt. A good trophy is always welcome.” the old man decided. He pulled back the string of his crossbow and placed a bolt, his eyes squinting as he scanned the surroundings.
As they continued to follow the tracks the group felt the increasing tension in the air. The forest was now completely silent save for the winds and noise they caused themselves. The old man looked around the surroundings confusion and worry showing clearly on his face.
“Old Hunt let's go back; this place is giving me the cree—”
“Shhhh...” Old Hunt interrupted the third hunter as he pointed at the ground.
Observing the ground, they could see all sorts of tracks running in all directions. Whatever was happening here the animals definitely didn't want to stay around and it was a good idea to follow the consensus.
“Willas, Ennyr we should head back, something is definitely not right here.” Hunt told his group.
Just as they started to head back the winds started picking up. It felt like with every step they took the winds grew stronger. Branches bent and cracked as loose leaves fell down like rain as the skies raged above.
Hunt ran as fast as his legs could take him through the increasingly harsh weather. A feeling of dread slowly took over him as he felt the ground start to shake beneath his feet. The true nature of the odd phenomenon dawned on him as the world itself seemed to twist and deform. At first, he thought he was just having mild hallucinations caused by the forest's old magics, but he was sure now. The path they took this morning did not have so many twists and turns and the trees were not so contorted like he was seeing them through a misshapen lens.
“By the gods, it's a world break.” he muttered to himself before turning and screaming towards the younger hunters that had fallen behind, unable to keep up with the old hunter’s expert movement.
“FOLLOW ME THIS WAY IF YOU WANT TO LIVE!”
He turned back and started running towards a new direction off the path they took previously unwilling to wait and see if the other two followed him lest it cost him his own life. He weaved through the twisting and turning trees letting his decades of experience lead him to his destination. No matter how the forest deforms he had walked its forest for more than half a century and he'd be damned if he couldn't find his way around even if he were blind and deaf.
Finally, he entered the familiar clearing. Upon entering the space, he instantly felt a drastic change in the surroundings. The howling winds were reduced to a whistle and the twisted world was back straight. He looked at the gigantic tree that dominated the clearing. Its branches swaying in the wind was the picture of tranquility. But he knew it wouldn't last no matter the power of the old guardian tree. The coming disaster couldn't be brushed off so easily.
Even during the few seconds, he took to catch his breath he could already feel the serene surroundings slowly succumb to the chaos. The great tree’s branches creaked as it fought ever harder to protect its domain. He walked toward the great tree taking off a small wooden token from his neck. He held it in his hand as knelt near the tree.
“Old guardian this servant of the woods beseechs thee for sanctuary,” he pleaded. “Worlds are colliding, and my men and I are far from home,” he spoke loudly making sure to space his words correctly.
He knelt there for several minutes not because his words were not heard but because trees do not operate in the same speed as humans. The great tree’s branches waved in assent having sensed the presence of the token. Its massive roots rose from the ground weaving together until they built a small cave for shelter.
Hunt looked back waiting for the other two but after half a minute no one arrived. Did they get lost or had the storm gotten too strong? He wondered. As he watched the storm close in on the great tree, he turned back dejected. He could not wait any longer in mere moments the disaster would reach its climax. Suddenly Ennyr sprinted into the clearing before collapsing exhausted. He was battered and bruised but at least he was alive.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Hunt grabbed Ennyr and carried him into the cave and they hunkered down as the roots closed the entrance. Seconds later they could feel the ground shake as the great tree battled against the storm.
They had no idea how long it had been, the constant shaking and the deafening howl of the wind felt like it lasted an eternity. they sat in silence, absolutely exhausted after the adrenaline that kept them going subsided. Hunt tended to Ennyr's wounds, dozens of small cuts and bruises from flying debris. As time went on the tremendous noise outside slowly subsided until it was all but silent.
Hunt looked at Ennyr curled in the corner of the cave having somehow fallen asleep during the ruckus. He stood up and moved to the cave's entrance as silently as he could. Hopefully, this was just a collision with an empty world and no foreign incursion was forthcoming. The thick roots that blocked the entrance moved apart allowing him to peek outside.
The world was wounded, was the first thing that came to his mind as he marveled at the massive tear in the sky, a great rift leading to a dark void stretched from horizon to horizon. As he gawked at the sight dozens of bright white objects fell from the void. Hunt ducked back into the cave he had experienced a world break long ago as a child and was more than aware of the terrors that come from beyond the rift.
He sat still half expecting the guardian tree to be forced into battle at any moment yet there was nothing. Instead, a low buzzing can be heard from all directions, but no sounds of violence can be heard. He once again raised his head to peek outside.
There were a couple of strange black bugs the size of a finger that had wings like nothing he had ever seen. They floated about slowly moving through the area producing a constant buzz as they went. For a moment he thought one saw him after it twirled around in the air but afterward, it just went on its way. They moved in strange near perfect lines and circles as they looked around, staring at everything in their way with their weird crystal-like head or was it a single gigantic eye? Hunt couldn't tell.
Hunt moved back into the cave to wake up Ennyr whatever those things were they looked like they were scouting the area. For what or who they were scouting for Hunt did not want to find out while in the middle of a forest hours away from help if things went wrong.
“Hey, wake up!” Hunt whispered as he shook Ennyr awake.
Ennyr answered him with a pained groan. His injuries were nothing serious, but they were definitely more painful than he'd like. His entire body ached with all the small wounds and bruises he sustained. He had no idea what caused half of them heck he had no idea how many wounds he had everything just hurt. With hunts hand grabbing his arm and pulling him up he was forced to stand up gritting his teeth when his many wounds got stretched.
“We have to go now, from what I saw the things out there aren't dangerous yet and it would be best to be back behind the walls while it stays that way.” Hunt told him while helping him up.
“Wha— what things???” Ennyr groggily asked. The day's events have left him confused and the constant pain didn't help.
“Whatever things are coming from the rift now c'mon we have to get going” Hunt answered.
The two of them left the cave Hunt stopped near the great tree clasping the wooden token as he whispered his thanks. They moved slowly back to the town, Ennyr unable to run after experiencing piercing pain in his right thigh when he tried. Hunt frowned in worry that maybe the wounds were not as minor as they seemed.
Half an hour into their walk back they froze as Hunt spotted one of the things high above in the sky through the canopy. Its crystal head pointed straight at them. This one was much larger than the ones Hunt saw before about the size of an arm. With its size Hunt could see what he thought were many small eyes inside its crystal head. He hoped, much like the smaller type, this one will just turn around and be on its way but this time he wasn't so lucky. The thing slowly moved towards them in apparent curiosity flying through the canopy in its weird hyper consistent flight.
Hunt raised his crossbow as he stared down the strange creature looking for any signs of aggression. It continued moving closer in constant speed before stopping ten meters away from them then it started the exact same circular flight that Hunt saw the smaller ones do while looking at its object of curiosity.
Then suddenly it produced a beam of light pointing right at them and Hunt let loose his bolt in retaliation not wanting to find out what the beam of light was for. The bolt struck the creature right at its crystal head creating a small crack before bouncing up and being caught in the creature's strange wings. The creature fell as its wings cracked against the bolt; it buzzed and whined as it rolled around the forest with what remained of its wing. Hunt picked up a stick from the ground and ran towards the fallen creature and started beating it until it lay broken in the ground.
The creature lay silent, its body crushed into pieces yet remarkably its crystal head was still pristine except for the small crack where the enchanted bolt had hit. Hunt picked up the corpse and they left the area moving as fast as Ennyr could manage.
Hunt kept glancing back as they made their way back to town. He expected to hear the unique buzz of the creatures any moment chasing them in revenge for their fallen kin yet nothing ever came. Maybe the creatures didn't realize one of their numbers went missing or maybe they're just not the type of creatures that cared either way they managed to make their way out of the forest without further encounters. As they burst out of the forest, they were welcomed by a dozen of the town's guards fully armed clad in their best armor.
“Hunt? What in Estia’s flowery ass happened to you?” a gruff voice rang out from the crowd.
Hunt scowled at the owner of the voice who casually slandered his patron deity. Captain Rikar was a tall muscular man dressed in full enchanted plate. He looked like a man in his prime if not for his graying hair.
“What do you think—” Hunt waved at the dozen armed men “—the same thing that got all you lot dressed up and sitting your ass out here in the cold.”
“You know that wasn't what I was asking Hunt, what the hell happened in there? A stampede of animals nearly trampled the fields if not for me and my men here.” Rickar clarified his question.
“A world break crashed right on top of our heads. The only good thing is nothing horrible dropped out while we were there.” Hunt answered.
“A world break!” Rickar barked in surprise. Worry instantly aging his face making him look more like his age.
“Hunt, we need to report to the chief.” Rickar exhaled after a moment of calming himself down.
“Has the chief returned while we were out?” Hunt asked, he perked up visibly at the mention of the man they served.
“No, not yet but the steward has a talking glass we could use.” Rickar answered.
The two of them started walking towards the castle as one of the men helped Ennyr towards the healers. The others remained at guard for whatever else may come bursting through the trees.